A vicious thug who tried to chop off a man's fingers during a horrific attack and threatened to cut out his tongue could face a life sentence.

A judge on Friday ordered a full risk assessment to be carried out on Paul Berry which can lead to the imposition of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

Lord Fairley said he was satisfied that the risk criteria were met for making a risk assessment order, although that would not tie his hands when it came to sentencing the knife attacker.

The 35-year-old earlier admitted detaining and assaulting George Lindsay to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment at a flat in Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire on September 1 last year.

During the ordeal Berry punched and kicked the victim, struck him with knives, burned him with cigarettes and pinned his hand to the floor as he tried to sever fingers.

Lord Fairley told him: "You have pled guilty to an extremely serious assault upon Mr Lindsay that comes on the back of a record which can only be regarded as appalling."

The court heard that Berry was at a flat in Skye Road with his older brother Richard,40, when the victim was invited in.

But after spending time together a row broke out which turned violent. Both brothers started punching and kicking the victim.

Advocate depute Louise Beattie said the younger brother stripped the victim of his clothes and he was forced onto the floor and his legs and feet were tied with yellow rope.

She said: "The assault was continued by Paul Berry for what George Lindsay estimated to be an hour. Paul Berry told him he could not leave and gave no explanation for the prolonged assault."

Lit cigarettes were used to burn the victim on the face and body and he was repeatedly struck on the body and limbs with a knife.

The prosecutor said: "Paul Berry then used the knife to attempt to sever Mr Lindsay's pinkie and middle finger of his left hand."

The injured man was eventually put in a shower and told to get washed. "He was told not to tell anyone of the incident. Paul Berry threatened to cut his tongue out to prevent him giving him a statement," said the advocate depute.

But police were alerted and arrived to find the brothers and victim still at the property, with blood stained clothes and shoes in a washing machine.

Mr Lindsay had 48 stitches and 23 staples inserted to injuries sustained in the ordeal.

The older brother earlier admitted a restricted assault charge of kicking and punching the victim, which did not involve the use of weapons on the victim, and was jailed for 30 months today. The court heard that he has expressed "extreme regret" for the attack and wished to apologise to the victim.

Sentence was adjourned on Paul Berry until February next year at the High Court in Glasgow.