A VIOLENT ned knocked a woman out during a horror-movie style attack.

Jamie Pender, 21, took his victim, Nicole Ferguson, and another woman, to a derelict building on Prestwick's Grangemuir Road before strangling her on February 18 last year.

Ayr Sheriff Court heard how the pint-sized bruiser punched Ms Ferguson repeatedly and pushed her down a set of stairs during the beatdown.

And he finished off by thumping her to the back of the head - a move which knocked her unconscious.

Fiscal Jonathan Kemp told how an argument started between Ms Ferguson and the other woman inside the abandoned building.

He said: "The accused started strangling Nicole Ferguson shouting at her telling her not to talk about her best friend."

It was at that point that Pender punched Ms Ferguson on the mouth.

The court was told how the other woman's phone went and it turned out to be Ms Ferguson's sister calling.

Ms Ferguson took the phone and pleaded with her sister: "Please come and get me."

Whilst on the phone Ms Ferguson walked down a flight of stairs and was pushed on the back causing her to fall on her back.

After she got out of the building the other girl shouted: "Nicole stop and sort this out."

All three returned to the derelict building and again Pender and Ms Ferguson started to argue.

Pender then started to choke her with two hands and said: "You underestimate me, I control you and I can kill you."

Ms Ferguson managed to break free and ran away, reaching the main road.

Again Pender and the other woman caught up with her and there was a tussle where Ms Ferguson ground.

As Ms Ferguson tried to get to her feet, Pender struck her on the back of the head, knocking her out.

When she woke up the police were called and eventually Pender was traced and arrested.

While being held in a cell the coward was heard saying: "I had a daft lassie in a sleeper hold and choked her out."

Pender's lawyer, Iain Gillies, claimed that an "enormous" level of alcohol had been consumed.

He said: "I'm not sure the complainer actually went to hospital. Mr Pender can only be thankful that these injuries were what they were.

"He tends to, when he can, drink himself senseless and commit these crimes.

"It's not an excuse but it's something Mr Pender will need to get help for."

Sheriff John Montgomery sentenced Pender to 20 months in prison for the attack.

He also handed down a further 10 months jail term for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

That was after Pender failed to show up at a trial diet in February this year.