Two men are set to stand trial on charges of beating another duo with a golf club and leaving them severely injured in Cumnock.

Jonathon Sloss and Callum McAtee deny charges of assault, threatening behaviour and carrying an offensive weapon.

The pair, both aged 35, are alleged to have set upon two men at the rear of a house in Keir Hardie Hill on April 9, 2023.

Sloss is alleged to have assaulted one of the men by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a stick and golf club, and to have then jumped on the same man’s head, all to his severe injury.

McAtee, while acting with another, is alleged to have assaulted a second man by pushing him on the ground and repeatedly striking him on the body with a stick and golf club or similar implement.

The Crown’s indictment claims that Mr McAtee then kicked the second man on the head and body and that he jumped on his head and body to his injury.

Both Sloss and McAtee are alleged to have caused fear and alarm by shouting and making threats to both men, while acting along with another.

Both men face a further charge alleging that they were in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a golf club, in a public place.

Sloss is also accused of breaching a bail condition imposed on March 27 last year by allegedly entering the curtilage of a property in Keir Hardie Hill.

Defence solicitors Ian Gillies and Katherine Grant told a hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court that both accused were ready for trial.

However, the procurator fiscal depute told Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart that the Crown had difficulty with a witness, who was not present after being cited to attend court.

The first diet hearing was adjourned and Sloss, of Glen Avenue in Cumnock, and McAtee, whose address was described in court papers as care of HMP Kilmarnock, will return to court at a later date.