A MAN who tried to kill a drinking pal with an electric iron has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Victor Gough, 37, repeatedly beat his victim until the iron broke after he "flipped".

Darren McCreadie suffered a fractured skull and was left unconscious and lying in a bath in Gough's Ayrshire flat following the assault.

Gough went to the living room and fell asleep on a couch. Police found him still sleeping in the bloodstained room when they arrived at the flat.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Johnston also ordered Gough to be kept under supervision for three years after his release from jail.

Gough, unemployed, admitted attempting to murder Mr McCreadie on June 13 last year at his home in Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.

The two pals had been drinking for days with Gough's girlfriend, who left the flat on the day of the attack.

Mr McCreadie recalled Gough "flipped" and hit him on the head with the iron and kicked and punched him.

Gough's girlfriend returned and dragged the attacker away.

But Gough pushed the victim into the bathroom, with Mr McCreadie falling into the bath.

Gough shouted "You're getting done in" and hit the victim on the head and face with the iron.

His girlfriend said she pleaded with him to stop the attack and eventually he did and fell asleep in the living room.

The victim regained consciousness and asked her to call an ambulance. She helped him out of the bath and laid him on a floor.

Mr McCreadie was rushed to hospital and his wounds were stitched. He had a fractured skull and bleeding and was transferred to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

A doctor said his injuries were potentially life-threatening because of blood loss.

Mr McCreadie still suffers from headaches and nightmares.