A MACHETE attack accused man charged with targeting the home of a Greenock couple is set to face a jury trial next week - despite the sheriff court being told that he is housebound and 'can't move'. 

John Paul Hilferty - who suffered a serious leg injury after being charged with eight alleged indictment offences - is accused of masking his face and smashing the windows of a property with a large blade.

A previous calling of the case heard that Hilferty, 28, may not be fit for trial until next year.

Prosecutor Maria Murdoch told the court last month: "I would be very surprised if he was able to come to court."

Hilferty's solicitor Aidan Gallagher said at the time: "It was thought the leg was going to have to be amputated but it has been saved. He is now at home but the leg is in a cage and will remain in that condition for many months."

However, Sheriff James Varney has ordered that the trial should proceed next week unless a medical certificate or defence motion to adjourn proceedings is submitted.

Larkfield man Hilferty, of Stafford Road, is charged with acting aggressively towards a man and a woman after allegedly turning up at their address three years ago with his face covered.

It is claimed he had a machete and used it to repeatedly strike windows, causing them to smash.

Solicitor Mr Gallagher told the latest calling of matters: "He has a number of pins in his leg and he is housebound.

"His position is he can't move.

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"It is unfortunate but it is the position he finds himself in currently through no fault of his own."

Hilferty is also charged with dangerous driving in February 2021 after allegedly mounting a footpath in Port Glasgow, travelling at excessive speed through several streets in the town and failing to stop for police.

It is further claimed that he breached the terms of a court-ordered bail curfew on three separate occasion in 2021 when he failed to remain within his address between the restricted hours of 7pm and 7am.

He faces another threatening or abusive behaviour charge of allegedly repeatedly phoning a woman who lived at a flat in Belville Street over a three-day period in April 2021.

He is said to have demanded money from her, uttered threats, attended at the flat and struck the door, shouted, swore and placed a male and female living there in a state of fear or alarm.

He denies all of the charges against him.