A TERRIFIED Greenock woman was knifed and scarred for life during a brutal head-kicking assault in her own home — then had a ring ripped from her finger.

Attackers Donna Bryce and Michelle O'Neill targeted the victim after going to her flat to 'socialise', an indictment hearing at the sheriff court was told.

The pair — who had been charged with threatening to put screws through the woman's eyes — had this and other allegations removed as part of a negotiated plea brokered by defence lawyers Amy Spencer and Aidan Gallagher.

Bryce, 35, 'launched' at the victim within her bedroom and carried out a sustained assault which continued into the living room of the flat at Nile Street.

O'Neill, 43, later presented a blade and shouted at the woman before pulling the ring from her finger 'with force'.

Prosecutor Raeesa Ahmed told the court: "During the early hours Bryce launched at the complainer and began to punch her repeatedly on the head, causing her to fall to the floor.

"Bryce continued to assault her, kicking her on the head and kicking into her ribs whilst she was lying on the floor trying to defend herself."

Fiscal depute Ms Ahmed added: "Bryce eventually stopped attacking the complainer and swore at her in telling her to get up.

"She told the complainer to go into the living room, at which point she started to punch and kick her again.

"Bryce then pulled out a Stanley blade, and slashed this down the back of the complainer's left hand."

Bryce and O'Neill had also been charged with stealing the woman's prescription medication, demanding she take them to her mother's home to get money for drugs and extorting money by threats.

Their not guilty pleas to these allegations were accepted by the Crown on Tuesday — the day they were due to go on trial before a jury.

O'Neill admitted to presenting a Stanley blade, or similar item, at the victim, demanding that she remove her ring, forcibly removing it, threatening violence, seizing her, pushing her onto the floor, placing a door on top of her and standing on the door, all to her injury.

Ms Ahmed said: "Michelle O'Neill shouted at the complainer that the ring she was wearing was either coming off or she was taking it off.

"The complainer was terrified and was about to remove the ring, she straightened her hand and O'Neill pulled the ring off with force and took the ring.

"The living room door within the locus had been taken off the frame before this incident. O'Neill grabbed the complainer by the body pushed her to the floor. O'Neill then placed the door on top of her and then she stood on top of the door.

"O'Neill eventually let her away and the complainer left the locus and ran to find some safety at a nearby Costcutters shop."

The court was told that the victim was examined by a doctor at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and had sustained injuries to her forehead, left cheek and left hand.

An X-ray of swelling confirmed that there were no fractures.

A two centimetre laceration to her hand has left a permanent scar.

O'Neill — who was on bail at the time of the attack on March 18 last year — has been remanded in custody since.

Bryce, of Kylemore Lane, has been on bail with a night-time curfew.

Lawyers Mr Gallagher and Ms Spencer reserved their pleas in mitigation on behalf of the pair until a sentencing hearing next month.

Sheriff James Varney has called for background report and electronic tagging assessments to be prepared.

The sheriff said: "All [sentencing] options are open. This was a very, very serious assault."

The case is due to call again on March 22.

*The Telegraph asked Police Scotland for a photograph of O'Neill in the public interest but we were told that this request could not be facilitated.

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