Tower block machete yob

A Motherwell tower block resident was slashed on the face with a machete after answering his door in the early hours of the morning.

Joseph Buchanan, 34, was jailed for two years at Hamilton Sheriff Court, pictured, last week for the “vicious” attack.

He admitted assaulting a male to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement in Glen Tower on January 21 this year while on bail for another matter.

Rebecca Clark, prosecuting, said Buchanan and a friend arrived at the flat with a dog at 2.30am.

She stated that the victim “came to the door and the accused immediately tried to punch him but missed”.

And she continued: “He then produced a large machete which he used to strike [the victim] on the face before trying to force entry to the flat.

“The complainer and his friend attempted to close the door and this resulted in the dog being jammed in the door and injured.

“They managed to lock it without any further contact from Buchanan who made his way home to a nearby tower block.”

The victim suffered a 6cm wound to his chin that needed stitches and will leave a scar.

Defence agent Laura Kiernan said there had been “ongoing bad feeling” between the parties and things worsened the previous day when the victim kicked Buchanan’s dog.

Ms Kiernan stated: “My client should not have reacted in the way he did. He was very angry and had taken alcohol.

“His parents and sister have died in recent years and his mental health has deteriorated. He struggles with alcohol and valium.

“He has PTSD after being seriously assaulted himself and was slashed while in prison awaiting this case.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff Colin Dunipace told Buchanan: “This was a vicious attack with a potentially lethal weapon on an individual at his home.

“You have an excessive record for crimes of violence so I’m satisfied there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”