Row over noise led to scissor stabbing

A FATHER-of-two who snapped after years of abuse from a neighbour stabbed the man’s nephew with a pair of wallpaper scissors.

James McCrimmon, 32, was convicted of assaulting Steven McCartney to the danger of his life on March 6, 2015, in Montraive Street, Rutherglen. The jury ruled that McCrimmon had acted under provocation.

He was originally charged with attempting to murder Mr McCartney, 42, but was convicted of the lesser charge.

McCrimmon lost his temper after his downstairs neighbour Robert Baird, 58, banged upstairs to complain about noise.

Bricklayer McCrimmon, who had a pair of scissors in his back pocket, went down to Mr Baird’s home and kicked violently at his front door. But when Mr Baird refused to come to the door, McCrimmon knocked on the door of another neighbour Mr McCart- ney, who is Mr Baird’s nephew.

Mr McCartney returned home to find McCrimmon banging on his door and a scuffle broke out during which McCrimmon stabbed Mr McCartney near the heart with the scissors.

McCrimmon said Mr McCartney took the scissors from his pocket and struck him on the head and neck. He said that as he tried to grab them back from Mr McCartney he stabbed him in self defence.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that trouble flared after Mr Baird moved into the four-in-ablock house in Rutherglen in 2012. He constantly complained about the noise that McCrimmon’s sons made and would constantly shout, swear and bang up to tell them to be quiet.

In evidence, McCrimmon said of his years living above Mr Baird: “It was like walking on eggshells, trying to keep the kids quiet. You don’t feel comfortable in your own home.”

He told the court he was in the house on his own when Mr Baird starting banging up and shouting.

He said: “There was no noise. I wanted to know why he was banging.”

Mr Baird, who is unemployed, said: “It was always noisy. I would complain. The kids played football and he had a loud voice. I’m deaf in one ear and it was still a problem for me.”

Mr McCartney said: “I never thought for a minute he had a big pair of scissors in his back pocket.

“He punched me and I punched him back and then he punched me in the face. I didn’t realise he had stabbed me. I noticed the blood as I put the key in my door to go inside and then I collapsed.

“I lost a lot of blood. He just missed my heart, hit a main artery and punctured my lung.”

Judge John Morris deferred sentence on McCrimmon, of Castlemilk, Glasgow, for background reports. He allowed him bail.