A man almost cut off a widow's nose in a knife attack.

Samuel Smith, 58, shouted: "No mercy, man, woman, child or beast" as he launched a drunken assault on 51-year-old Margaret Healy.

Smith also stabbed her in the neck and there was so much blood on the kitchen floor Mrs Healy slipped in it.

Nicol, of Deveron Street, Riddrie, who was originally charged with attempting to murder Mrs Healy, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow and admitted the reduced charge of assault to severe injury and scarring her for life.

The attack happened last November 4 in Mrs Healy's home at Croftspar Grove, Springboig.

Adran Cottam, prosecuting, said Mrs Healy found it difficult to cope after the death of her husband in 2004, and "took solace" in alcohol.

She was helped by family and friends to socialise and joined a local bowling club, where she met Nicol, a recovering alcoholic.

Mr Cottam told how the couple consumed most of a litre bottle of whisky before the attack and, as the evening went on, a row broke out, culminating in Mrs Healy ordering Nicol to pack his belongings and leave.

He grabbed her by the hair and kicked her on the head and face.

Later that night, Nicol, in the presence of a pal who arrived to pick him up, grabbed a kitchen knife, held it against Mrs Healy's neck, and told her: "I could easily stab you."

The pal left when Nicol was adamant he was staying. But soon afterwards Nicol lunged at Mrs Healy.

Mr Cottam said the injury had gone from her cheekbone across her nose to the other cheekbone. Doctors described her nose as being "almost hanging off".

After the incident Nicol drove off in his car and collided with another vehicle, and then went on the pavement and hit a wall.

He was still drunk when police later arrested him at a friend's house.

Sentence was deferred until next month.