Teen knifed welcoming neighbour

Murder bid rap over vicious Airdrie robbery

A vicious teen thug from Airdrie stabbed a neighbour and robbed him of £100 in an unprovoked attack on Boxing Day.

The 17-year-old attacker, who had been invited in to his neighbour’s home for a drink, slashed him on the neck and stabbed him in the back in an unprovoked assault.

At the High Court in Glasgow earlier this month the teenager, who has a previous conviction for assault to severe injury, admitted attempted murder.

The offence was committed in Howletnest Road on December 26.

The victim was a 48- year- old neighbour of the accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and there was no history of bad feeling between them.

In the early hours of Boxing Day the victim went outside for a smoke and saw the accused also smoking and the two chatted. The neighbour invited the accused in for a drink.

Then, without warning, the accused produced a knife from the waistband of his trousers and struck the complainer on the left side of his neck and shouted: “Where’s your f***ing money.”

The neighbour handed over £100, but the 17- year- old demanded more cash and became even more aggressive.

Prosecutor Mark McGuire said: “The accused repeatedly nicked the complainer’s neck with the knife which caused him to fear for his life.”

The 48-year-old managed to run out of the house to a nearby house, leaving a trial of blood.

He had been stabbed in the back and collapsed.

The man had suffered multiple slash wounds to the side of his neck, requiring stitches, and a collapsed lung due to the stab wound.

He needed to have a drain inserted in his chest, but did not require surgery.

The 17- year- old also stole his neighbour’s car, which he admitted in court – as well as drink driving and having no licence or insurance. These offences were committed in Howletnest Road and nearby Knox Street, also on December 26.

The accused was seen by police leaving the car in Knox Street holding a Buckfast bottle in his hand and then returning to the car and throwing the bottle into it.

The neighbour confirmed that his car had been parked outside his home and he had not given the accused permission to drive it.

The court was told the accused has a record of previous convictions which began when he was 15.

He has five previous convictions – one of which involved a metal pole, and another a baseball bat – and one for possession of a knife.

Judge Lady Scott deferred sentence until next month.