Knifeman who disfigured six victims in attack is jailed

● Man went on rampage that was likely to have been drug induced, judge told

A knife attacker who stabbed six men in a frenzy of violence has been jailed for seven years.

Gary Burns, 28, wounded victims in the rampage in Falkirk in Stirlingshire on 29 December 2018.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh was told that it was likely to have been a druginduced psychotic episode.

Lord Turnbull told Burns: “You pled guilty to a series of attacks against six individuals, two of whom came to assist you thinking you were under attack.”

The judge said: “The injuries involved for three of the victims were very severe.”

Lord Turnbull said it was offending “of a most serious nature”. He pointed out the condition that had caused difficulties for Burns and for which he takes medication was drug and alcohol induced.

The judge ordered Burns should be kept under supervision for a further four years.

Burns, who has previous convictions for assault, was only released from custody a few weeks before the spate of attacks.

Burns, from Falkirk, earlier admitted committing the six attacks in 2018 that resulted in disfigurement to all of the victims. He first struck at The Auld Vic pub in the town’s Grahams Road and attacked John Montague as he returned from smoking outside and struck the victim on the head with a knife.

He fled before turning on others in the street next to the bar. David Cunningham suffered seven “rapid stabs” to the chest and stomach.

James White and Lewis Cunningham were then injured as they tried to come to Mr Cunningham’s aid.

Grant and Gary Logan were attacked after they got out of a taxi. Grant was slashed to the face and neck and Gary was stabbed on the thigh.

Several of the victims required hospital treatment following the spate of attacks.

Burns was later traced to a Mcdonald’s at a nearby retail parkandablood-stainedknife was recovered.

Defence counsel Geoff Forbes said Burns had committed an unprovoked attack on Mr Montague.

He said Burns had previously been assaulted and was paranoid about being attacked again.