A man attacked his ex-lover's elderly parents with a chainsaw days after she left him.

James MacDonald, 48, burst into John and Flora MacPherson's home and threatened to kill their daughter Tracey.

He stood in their living room revving the chainsaw before suddenly turning it on terrified Mrs MacPherson then Mr MacPherson as he tried to save his wife.

Mr MacPherson, 74, almost had his whole arm cut off while Mrs MacPherson, 63, was also left badly injured.

MacDonald then fled the house in Fort William in the Highlands.

A judge heard how the couple told each other they loved one another as John feared he was going to die but he survived after a nine-hour operation to save his arm.

Details of the attacks emerged on Monday as MacDonald pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

He also admitted assaulting Mrs MacPherson to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment as well to the danger of her life.

MacDonald, who had been seeing Ms MacPherson for more than two years before she left him on July 14, has been remanded in custody.

She moved back in with her parents but her now ex continued to hound her.

Prosecutor Ross Macfarlane QC told the High Court in Glasgow: "He stated to her that he had 'put in' the door of her flat with a power saw.

"He told her repeatedly that he was going to kill her."

Ms MacPherson was so scared she asked her parents to lock all the doors at their home.

On the day of attacks, July 19, MacDonald was spotted with a chainsaw under his seat at a bar in Caol, Fort William.

MacDonald then left the pub and stormed off to the MacPhersons' house.

The couple were watching TV around 8pm when the ground worker got in via a back door.

Their daughter was meantime upstairs in one of the bedrooms.

Armed with the chainsaw, MacDonald turned it on and yelled: "Where is Tracey? I'm going to kill her tonight."

MacDonald kept revving the chainsaw before striking out at his former lover's mother. Mrs MacPherson tried to turn away - but she was wounded after being hit on the arm. Her husband leapt out of his chair to rescue her.

The pensioner was left horrifically injured after MacDonald also repeatedly lashed out at him.

Mr MacPherson, who had previously suffered a stroke - immediately slumped to the ground.

His wife screamed her daughter Tracey was not in before the attacker raced out with the chainsaw still revving.

She dialled 999 and then went to help her blood-soaked husband.

Prosecutor Mr Macfarlane said: "They told each other that they loved one another.

John MacPherson said that he was going to die and to tell his children that he loved them. He also started to pray."

Mr MacPherson, also known as Raymond, was taken to a local hospital before being sent for treatment in Glasgow with an injury described as "catastrophic".

Mr Macfarlane: "His right arm was partially amputated... almost severed just below the shoulder."

The pensioner, who also had a large wound from his jaw to his neck, went through a nine-hour operation to reattach his arm.

Medics confirmed had he not received help he would have died. The court heard he is permanently scarred and his injured arm is now shorter than the other.

The ordeal has left him suffering "flashbacks" and "nightmares". It is likely he will require more surgery in the future.

His wife needed around 12 stitches for wounds to her arm and hand. Mrs MacPherson is also scarred for life and has been seeing a counsellor due to the trauma of what happened.

MacDonald was caught by police at a nearby canal after the attacks.

He confessed: "I admit what I have done."

MacDonald, of Fort William, admitted other charges of behaving in a threatening manner and having an offensive weapon.

None of the victims were in court on Monday.

Graham Robertson, defending, said the case for everyone involved was an "absolute and complete tragedy".

Lord Boyd deferred sentencing for reports until December 13 in Edinburgh.