Jailed, chainsaw attacker who left terrif ied stranger scarred for life

a ‘SMILInG’ attacker who tried to kill a stranger with a chainsaw has been jailed for more than eight years.

Failed businessman Joe Brown 45, left victim arthur Innes scarred for life in an assault described as ‘like something out of a horror film’.

at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, Brown was jailed for eight years and three months after he admitted attempted murder.

He will also be supervised for three years after his release.

Brown also pleaded guilty to assault and drugs charges.

Lord Matthews told Brown: ‘This was a dreadful offence. It was like something out of a horror film.

‘This was a man going out to play golf and then being confronted by someone with a chainsaw. It must have been unimaginable.’

Brown attacked Mr Innes, 61, at Dundee’s Caird Park Golf Club in May this year. The victim and two friends were getting out of their cars ahead of a round of golf.

Brown – wearing only jeans – walked up to them and said: ‘Madness is in the eyes.’

Described as ‘smiling’ and with his eyes ‘bulging’, he started up his chainsaw and brought it down towards Mr Innes, who was struck while trying to defend himself.

Prosecutor Owen Mullan said: ‘Brown again struck Mr Innes with the chainsaw, scraping it down the right side of his head and top of his right shoulder.’

He managed to shove away Brown, who dropped the chainsaw then fled. Mr Innes was left with a large scar on his arm and one on his head. Doctors said it was lucky his injuries were not more severe.

The court heard Brown later punched another man.

He was found collapsed outside a grandmother’s home and he told her: ‘I’m a bad man. I attacked someone with a chainsaw.’

Brown was soon detained and told police: ‘If I’ve hurt somebody I won’t live with myself.’

Cannabis plants, ecstasy pills and cocaine were discovered during a search of Brown’s Dundee home.

Defending, Ronnie Renucci, QC, said: ‘He [Brown] had a successful business that went into difficulty. There were problems in a relationship. He felt the strain and pressure was getting too much for him.’

The court heard Brown had been ‘self-medicating’.