A THUG who battered a deaf Port Seton man after picking him up in an Edinburgh city centre gay bar has been detained at a hospital for “his own safety”.

Charles Simpson punched and kicked “vulnerable” Robert Greig during a prolonged attack in the victim’s county home in February last year.

The two men had enjoyed a three-hour drinking session together in the Capital’s Cafe Habana before heading back to Mr Greig’s house in Port Seton.

But after arriving at the flat Simpson turned from “Jekyll to Hyde” and launched the unprovoked attack on Mr Greig.

Mr Greig, who became totally deaf two years ago, claimed Simpson had attacked him after he had returned from the toilet to find the man going through his wallet.

Simpson had pleaded guilty last year to an amended charge of assaulting Mr Greig and sentence had been deferred for various medical and psychiatric reports.

READ MORE: Deaf man battered in his own home

The 33-year-old attacker arrived at the city court from custody on Tuesday, where Sheriff Frank Crowe told him he is to be held under an interim compulsion order until next month for him to be medically and psychiatrically assessed.

Simpson will be transferred to Lynebank Hospital in Dunfermline, Fife, for the meantime and Sheriff Crowe will decide on his future when he returns to court on April 18.

On Tuesday, the court heard details of Simpson’s latest brush with the law when he brandished a kitchen knife during a meeting with staff at his supported accommodation in Hawick. Simpson claimed he had been twice beaten up following local news reports of his attack on Mr Greig.

The court heard that the Richmond Fellowship, which runs the supported accommodation unit, has now told Simpson he is no longer welcome to live there, as this is the second incident involving him abusing its staff.

Sheriff Crowe told Simpson: “You have cooperated with all the reports and two doctors say for your own safety and for those of others that you should be subjected to compulsory measures in a hospital.

“I think in fairness this is the best place for you at the moment. It is away from where you have been staying and no one will know about the background to that unfortunate case.”

Previously, the court heard details of Simpson’s attack on former Virgin Atlantic flight manager Mr Greig.

The pair had met in the Edinburgh pub before going back to Mr Greig’s home on February 6 last year.

But once inside, Simpson threw Mr Greig onto a couch and began hitting him.

During the beating, Simpson scribbled down threats on a notepad to the deaf victim, stating: “I will kill you”, “I will knife you” and “I want your money”.

Mr Greig said that he was saved from the attack after a neighbour burst in after hearing his cries for help through the wall.

But Simpson told the court that he had acted in self-defence that evening, after Mr Greig had returned from the toilet wearing just his underwear before then attempting to kiss him.

Simpson claimed he punched the man once to the face before kicking him once as he lay bloodied on the sofa.

He added that he left the house without stealing any cash.

Simpson was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of assaulting Mr Greig by pushing him onto a sofa, struggling with him, striking him to the head and kicking him on the body at the house in Port Seton on February 6 last year.