A man allegedly strangled his partner before allegedly trying to strike her on the head and body with a hammer.

John Paul Thompson, 32, faces a charge of assaulting the woman to her injury during an alleged assault on September 18 last year.

Thompson, whose address was listed as HMP Barlinnie on the Crown's indictment, is alleged to have repeatedly placed his hands on the woman's neck, compressing it to restrict her breathing.

Court papers state he repeatedly bit the woman on the head, also seizing her by the hair and pulling on it.

It's claimed he also brandished a hammer towards the woman and attempted to strike her on the head and body with it.

The indictment states the charge is aggravated by involving alleged abuse of a partner or ex partner - with Mr Thompson out on bail granted at July 12 and then August 15 last year at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when the case called before Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart.

He will return to face the allegations in Ayr Sheriff Court at a later date.