Man gets nine years for frenzied attack on three people

COURT: Family ‘torn apart’ as a result of horrific knife assault by 30-year-old

An “evil” knifeman has been locked up for a frenzied attack on three people in a Perthshire town.

Stephen Bertie plunged a blade into James Irvine’s chest during a bloody fracas in Auchterarder.

The 30-year-old went on to attack Mr Irvine’s sister Marion and their friend Stewart Henderson. There were two children in the flat at the time.

The row erupted when Bertie was accused of stealing a mobile phone, the High Court in Glasgow heard.

Bertie admitted attempting to murder Mr Irvine, 32, and attacking his sister and their friend at a flat in Sydney Crescent last summer.

He was given an extended nine-year sentence, meaning he will serve at least six years in jail and will be placed under supervision for a further three years once he’s released.

Emergency services descended on the street at around 7pm on Friday August 25 last year.

Neighbours were alerted to sounds of a large-scale disturbance at Ms Irvine’s home. Several police officers were seen wrestling Bertie to the ground as he shouted, swore and tried to fight them off.

At the height of the incident, there were seven emergency vehicles parked on the street with blue lights flashing.

The court heard Bertie, who also lived at Sydney Crescent, had called at the flat and was invited inside.

Shortly afterwards, he was accused of stealing a mobile phone and ordered to get out. He came back 15 minutes later armed with a knife.

Speaking after the attack, Ms Irvine said: “We were standing at the back door and he appeared from nowhere. “He had a knife hidden up his sleeve.” The court heard that Mr Irvine suffered a potentially fatal blade wound to his chest.

He was heard to cry out: “I am going to die.”

Ms Irvine said: “I tried to stop him and he struck the knife through my hand.

“There was so much blood, but I was in such a state of shock I didn’t even feel it.

“I can barely move my hand and my thumb is now completely numb.”

Bertie also stabbed Mr Henderson in the shoulder.

Ms Irvine added: “The worst part is how he has torn our family apart, my brother has post traumatic stress disorder and isn’t the same person.

“It’s a miracle he survived. It’s been a nightmare. I didn’t even know who Bertie was before that night – he’s an evil man.”

Ms Irvine said she had suffered anxiety and depression following the attack. “I will never forgive him,” she added.

Stephen Bertie is led away from court after being sentenced.