A THUG cut off part of a friend's ear and scratched what appeared to be his name on the victim's chest during a brutal murder bid in Drumchapel.

Thomas Fullerton, 29, turned on Liam Day, leaving him in a pool of blood at his home last April 30.

After police were alerted by worried neighbours, Fullerton asked officers: "Is he dead? At least tell me if he is dead."

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Mr Day survived, but remains badly affected by his horror ordeal.

Fullerton is now behind bars after he pleaded guilty to an attempted murder charge on Tuesday.

The court heard the victim had returned to his flat that morning with Fullerton and 29-year-old Jordan Clark.

Other residents later became aware of loud noises and what appeared to be a violent disturbance at the property.

Greg Farrell, prosecuting, told the court: "They heard shouting and screaming. Items were being thrown to such an extent that their own flat shook.

"They heard further shouting then someone screaming as if in pain."

Police were called and, when officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Mr Day lying unconscious.

He was initially found to have wounds to his head, neck, chest, and back.

Mr Farrell added: "He also had an injury to his left ear, with a severed piece lying on the hallway floor, near a pair of blood-stained scissors."

A bloodied knife and a broken vodka bottle were discovered in a laundry basket.

The court heard Fullerton had used these weapons to repeatedly strike Mr Day during the sustained attack.

Fullerton stated at the scene: "He is dead, isn't he? He has been stabbed in the neck."

The victim was described as "critically unwell" and was initially treated at the scene for an hour by medics to stabilise his condition before going to hospital.

Mr Farrell listed Mr Day's many injuries, which included a bleed on the brain, fractures to the jaw, nose, and ribs as well as heavy bruising and several wounds.

The prosecutor: "He also multiple abrasions to the skin of his chest in the shape of the letters 'TAM'.

"He has lost part of his ear and has permanent scarring.

"He advises that he has been diagnosed with PTSD and suffers from fear and anxiety at going anywhere."

Mr Day - who, the court was told, had no memory of the attack - also needed a plate and screws put in his jaw to repair the damage.

The court heard Fullerton, also of Drumchapel, had taken Valium earlier that day.

Tony Graham KC, defending, said: "I do not need to explain [Valium's] effects, but, suffice to say, what should have been a good-natured afternoon descended to what is now before the court."

Lord Matthews quizzed the defence advocate on the letters which were left on Mr Day's chest.

Mr Graham said he was not suggesting the letters were a "coincidence", but that the drugs had played a part.

The judge asked whether Fullerton's "brain [was] addled".

Mr Graham replied: "I think you sum it up perfectly."

Fullerton was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.

Mr Clark had also faced the attempted murder charge, but his not guilty plea was accepted.