A THUG laughed after puncturing a man's lung with a knife in a murder bid in Ayr.

Ryan Halliday, 44, pounced on Lee Galloway at his home in the town earlier this year.

The pair got into an argument which turned violent with Halliday striking his victim with knives and a hammer.

Mr Galloway was hit on the head and body during the incident on January 15, and believed he was going to die after he received potentially "life threatening" injuries.

A laughing Halliday later remarked to police: "Lee Galloway with a punctured lung."

Halliday pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday to a charge of attempted murder.

The court heard that the pair were in Halliday's home with three women.

Halliday was notably irate and Mr Galloway had attempted to calm him down.

An argument took place and Halliday grabbed two knives as well as a hammer which prompted two of the women to leave.

A neighbour heard shouts saying: "Ryan, stop it" and "Ryan, we didn't say anything about you".

Prosecutor Paul Kearney said: "Halliday repeatedly struck Mr Galloway with the smaller of the two knives.

"The victim sustained a defensive injury to his lower left arm.

"He stabbed the victim to the left side of his chest with a knife and struck him on the left side of his head at his temple with the hammer."

Halliday stated to Mr Galloway after the attack that he "probably had a punctured lung".

Mr Kearney added: "Mr Galloway thought he was going to die."

A 999 call was made and one of the women reported that Halliday had stabbed her cousin, Mr Galloway.

Police attended the scene and were told "everything's fine" by Halliday, who tried to close the living room door behind him.

The door was kicked in by officers who found Mr Galloway seated on the couch near the knife, which was sticking out of a cushion.

He was noted to be "pale in colour and had blood coming from his nose".

Mr Galloway revealed a small puncture wound to his abdomen, but initially did not state who caused it.

After Halliday was arrested, Mr Galloway broke down in tears and claimed that he was assaulted by him.

Mr Kearney added: "He stated that he attended earlier with tobacco and had no idea why Halliday assaulted him."

The hearing was told Halliday made a number of statements to officers on his way to a police station.

Mr Kearney said: "He stated 'Lee Galloway with a punctured lung' before laughing loudly."

Mr Galloway was taken to hospital meantime, but the ambulance was stopped as his lung had collapsed.

His chest was decompressed before he was found to have suffered two collapsed lungs.

Mr Galloway also sustained wounds to his to his right ear, back, hands and arms near to the elbow.

A doctor stated that "the injuries could have been life threatening without immediate medical intervention".

DNA from both men was later found on a knife and hammer found at the scene.

It was revealed that unemployed Halliday has High Court and Sheriff Court convictions for assault and robbery.

Judge Lord Armstrong deferred sentence until next month for background reports

Halliday, who had been remanded in custody for the duration of the case, will remain behind bars until he is sentenced next month.