A world champion cage fighter launched a brutal hammer attack on a thief who tried to break into his home.
IMF Muay Thai world champ Chris Shaw left George Halliday covered in blood, with a broken nose and unable to see properly.
Shaw, who has also fought numerous MMA bouts, launched the attack after chasing Halliday, who was armed with a chisel and saw, down the street in just his boxer shorts and a pair of flip-flops.
Shaw was in bed when addict Halliday – who once stole an ambulance used to ferry ill children to hospital – tried to break into his home.
The kickboxer, 31, was woken by the noise of the 44-year-old stealing tools from his van and trying to gain access to his home.
He chased Halliday down the street and launched his attack, which landed Halliday in hospital and Shaw in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court.
On Friday, Shaw pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Halliday to his severe injury on August 11, 2020, in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.
Prosecutor David McDonald told the court: “A witness said they heard someone shouting, ‘Did you just tan my house?’.”
The court then heard Shaw struck Halliday, causing him to fall to the ground, then hit him with the hammer, with the blow landing on Halliday’s arm.
He then rained kicks and punches on the thief for about two minutes, leaving Halliday covered in blood and with an eye swollen shut.
The police arrested Shaw, noting he had dried blood on his knuckles.
Receiving hospital treatment, Halliday said: “I thought I was breaking into a garage but it turns out it was a house and the guy battered me”.
Halliday refused to provide a police statement or let them photograph his injuries.
Halliday appeared in court the day after the attack and pleaded guilty to breaking into Shaw’s van and stealing items, and trying to break into his home so he could steal from it.
Halliday became a heroin addict after being attacked and stabbed more than 20 times in 2010.
He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017.
Sheriff Tom McCartney called for background reports ahead of sentencing next month.
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