DAD JAILED FOR CCTV STABBING

Town centre attack described as‘truly shocking’

A dad of two has been jailed for three years after a “truly shocking” stabbing in Hamilton town centre.

Christopher Hillan was caught on CCTV as he confronted Connor Brown while holding a knife with an eight-inch blade.

Hillan (24), of Kelvin Gardens, Hamilton, admitted assaulting Mr Brown to his injury and permanent disfigurement in Castle Street on March 2 last year.

He pushed the victim repeatedly, headbutted him, put him in a headlock and stabbed him in the face. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard Mr Brown suffered a 1cm cut under his right eye and bruising. Hillan’s lawyer, Ali

Murray, admitted photographs of the victim’s injuries looked “horrific”, but pointed out: “From the doctor’s statement, it’s clear the wound did not require stitching.”

Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said the attack happened about 1.30am.

Mr Brown was with a female when they were approached by others including Hillan.

Ms Mathieson told the court: “The accused began acting aggressively towards Mr Brown, put him in a headlock and struck him on the face. The victim managed to break free and made off.

“The accused and a female were seen to enter a taxi and at this point police arrived.

“Hillan was arrested and said ‘It was just a stupid mistake – literally’.”

Mr Murray conceded that what the CCTV showed was “horrendous”.

He told the court: “In the run-up to the incident Mr Hillan had been told a friend was in some peril and he went to assist. He accepts he was carrying a knife. He used the butt of the knife to strike Mr Brown.

“Alcohol played a part as it so often does in these incidents. His partner and his mother tell me that since this happened he has not consumed alcohol.”

Mr Murray suggested that a community payback order, including alcohol counselling, could be imposed instead of prison.

But Sheriff Shiona Waldron told Hillan: “This was a truly shocking incident and, given what we all saw on the CCTV, there is no alternative to custody to reflect the serious nature of it.”

The sheriff said she had reduced the sentence from four years to three because of Hillan’s early guilty plea.