A MAN whacked a woman on the head with a claw hammer on a Greenock street - in a bid to break-up a fight between her and his wife.

Alan Sharp grabbed the weapon and carried out the attack after being told that the two women were brawling at tea-time on Lyle Street.

Sharp, 43 — who has been locked up since the incident in August — swung the hammer and struck his victim with a single blow which resulted in her having a 'lump' on her head.

Prosecutor Claire Rowan told the sheriff court: "An argument started between the complainer and the accused's wife and this resulted in a fight between them, whereby both were on the ground.

"The accused struck the complainer with a black-handled claw hammer to her head.

"As a result of being struck, the complainer had a lump on her head, however she refused medical treatment.

"The accused was traced shortly afterwards and arrested.

"He was cautioned and charged and replied, 'I deny it'."

Sharp, of Kilcreggan View, committed the offence at around 6.30pm on August 18.

His former co-accused wife, Jillian, 40, had been charged with assaulting the the other woman by striking her with a brick, however, her not guilty plea to this was accepted by the Crown.

Defence lawyer Edward Sweeney said: "Mr Sharp had been socialising in a flat nearby when he was told of the altercation.

"He picked up a hammer from the common close, went out into the street and saw his wife face down on the ground being kicked on her ribs and legs by the complainer.

"He has indicated to me that it was certainly not a full-strength swing and that his intent was to bring about an end to what was happening."

Sheriff Joseph Hughes released Sharp on bail and deferred sentence on him until December 23 for a background report and electronic tagging assessment.