‘I chopped his ear aff’, knife thug told cops

Victim discovered with slash marks

A thug, who confessed to a violent knife attack after being lifted by police on another matter, is facing a lengthy jail sentence.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Gary Howieson (28) admitted repeatedly striking James Slaven on the head and body with a knife to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement on March 5, last year, in Main Street, High Blantyre.

Prosecutor Blair Speed told the court that at 9.40pm, police found 25-year-old Mr Slaven sitting in Main Street with blood pouring from a wound to the back of his head.

He also had a number of slash marks on his jacket and a cut to his right ear.

The court was told that when Howieson was detained by police on March 11, last year, he told them: “A guy in Blantyre got his throat slit on Sunday. That was me..”

Howieson then added: “I chopped his ear aff. Get me Cambuslang CID. They’re looking for me.”

Mr Speed said that police checked the crime management system and identified the attack on Mr Slaven.

He suffered a wound to the base of his head which required staples and sutures, and a wound to his right ear which required seven stitches.

Howieson was originally charged with assault to danger of life, but the Crown accepted a plea to a reduced charge.

He has previous convictions for assault and attempted robbery and possession of a knife.

Judge Lord Mulholland deferred sentence on Howieson until next month for background reports.