Thug stabbed man then gave First Aid

Drugs bust-up ended with victim on operating table

A Rutherglen thug who stabbed his former neighbour – and then administered First Aid to him – has been jailed.

Alan Hannah turned up at his victim’s door with a weapon after the pair had exchanged cheeky text messages, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard last week.

They got into a fight in the East Kilbride tower block where 26-yearold Hannah lived at the time, and he ended up stabbing his victim following a struggle.

The court heard Hannah was shocked by what he’d done and then phoned for an ambulance before giving First Aid to the victim.

Hannah, of Pinkerton Avenue in Rutherglen, admitted assaulting the man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment at White Cart Tower on January 13.

That day the accused and his 43-year-old victim had exchanged “argumentative” texts.

Hannah then appeared at the victim’s door armed with a meat cleaver.

Callum Forsyth, prosecuting, told the court: “Seeing this, the complainer took possession of a knife from his kitchen and a struggle ensued during which the accused came into possession of the knife. He stabbed (the victim) once on the back of the thigh.

“The complainer fell to the floor. He was bleeding profusely and began to drift in and out of consciousness.

“The accused called an ambulance for him and he was taken to Hairmyres Hospital. The wound was deep and had severed the sciatic nerve. He underwent an operation the next day.

“He is left with a small scar caused by the wound and a larger one from the surgery. He experiences persistent numbness and this will be permanent.”

Neal McShane, defending, said the victim had wrongly accused Hannah of owing someone Valium and had demanded he go to his flat to talk about it. Mr McShane stated: “Hannah knows he should have stayed at his own address.

“He was concerned it would lead to a violent confrontation so he armed himself. He dropped the meat cleaver but accepts he got control of the knife.

“He was shocked by the injury. The transcript of his 999 call shows the ambulance employee directed him on how to treat the wound which he did.”

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen jailed Hannah, who has a previous conviction for carrying a blade, for 18 months.

The Sheriff told him: “I take account of what you did in calling the emergency services, following their instructions and providing aid to your victim.”