AN AYR man who was spared custody after leaving a man permanently scarred in a savage assault in the centre of Ayr has ended up in jail after all.

Ethan Jess left his victim injured and permanently disfigured after the attack in the town’s High Street on October 9, 2021.

Bearded Jess, 23, headbutted his victim and repeatedly punched and kicked him on the head and body.

He was put on a community payback order (CPO) as an alternative to custody.

But when the Campbell Court resident returned to Ayr Sheriff Court last week for a review of his progress on the order, defence solicitor Robert Campbell admitted a report by social workers on his client was “not entirely positive”.

The court Jess had breached the terms of the CPO, with Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart observing there was “very little positive” in the social work report and that it described Jess’s attitude as “appalling”.

Sheriff MacTaggart said: “Mr Jess, you are not an unintelligent man. You must realise if you are not prepared to comply you leave the court with no option that is not custody.”

Jess’s community payback order was revoked and he was jailed for six months.