Sheriff hits out at knife crime

Victim was left permanently disfigured

A sheriff slammed knife violence as she jailed an attacker for three-and-a-half years.

Jason Doyle chased and stabbed a man who had just moved into his village in what was described as a “shocking and disgraceful” drink-fuelled attack.

Doyle, 27, of Overtown Road, Netherburn, was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

He admitted that, while acting with another unnamed man, he assaulted Stephen Richardson to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement in Overtown Road on May 25 last year.

The victim was stabbed repeatedly on the head and body then punched and kicked repeatedly while he was on the ground.

Sheriff Shiona Waldron told Doyle: “It’s a matter of much concern that we frequently see in this court accused persons, witnesses and members of the public – young men – whose faces have been scarred for life by knives.”

The court heard Doyle, who had no history of violence on his record, “struggles to understand” why he lost the plot to such an extent.

But the sheriff told him: “If you’re seeking an explanation for why this happened, look at the level of alcohol you had, by your own admission, consumed in the previous 24 hours.”

Liza Lann, prosecuting, said Mr Richardson had just moved to the area and was looking for permanent accommodation.

He peered in the window of a house he fancied and which he thought was empty.

A man inside took issue with this and this person, along with his friend Doyle, chased Mr Richardson up the street a short time later.

Both then attacked Mr Richardson who suffered cuts to his forehead, above his lip and his abdomen, and required a number of stitches. The wounds will leave permanent scars.

Kris Buchanan, defending, asked the sheriff to consider an alternative to custody.

He said: “My client would benefit from the structured support of a supervision order and is fit to do unpaid work.

“He struggles to understand why he did this as he has no previous convictions for crimes of violence.

“His behaviour was, no doubt, influenced by a severe level of intoxication.

“With the benefit of sobriety, he sees that he became involved in something that did not concern him. He has expressed guilt for his actions.”

But Sheriff Waldron told Doyle: “I’m afraid there is no alternative to custody in this case.

“This was an utterly shocking and disgraceful incident.

“I would have jailed you for four years, but will reduce it by six months to reflect your guilty plea on the day of the trial.”