Four years for hammer thug

A Motherwell thug convicted of a knife and hammer attack has been jailed for more than four years.

Lee Hamilton, 32, was found guilty of assaulting Cameron Earl to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life, and robbing him.

Co-accused William Smith, 31, of Imperial Drive, Airdrie, was cleared of the charge.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the attack happened in Ettrick Avenue, Bellshill, in April 2018.

Hamilton, of Forgewood Road, Motherwell, who has a string of previous convictions, was found guilty after trial in December.

The case was adjourned for a criminal justice social work report and he returned to court for sentence this week.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre jailed Hamilton for four years and five months.

The sheriff also ordered him to be put under supervision for three years on his release from prison.

The victim of the attack has since died, though not as a result of his injuries.

Hamilton was convicted after a key witness changed her evidence.

During the trial Leeanne Campbell was charged with perjury after her evidence to the court.

She then returned to the witness box and admitted what she’d said was lies.

Asked by Neil Thomson, prosecuting, if anything had happened to her after giving evidence, Ms Campbell replied: “I was charged with perjury.”

Police officers had asked her why she lied and she told them of “concerns” she had about speaking up.

Ms Campbell then assured the fiscal she would give a true account of the events that happened inside and outside her home in Ettrick Avenue.

She said a number of people, including both accused, were there and Mr Earl was attacked after sending texts to a female.

Ms Campbell, 28, said Hamilton and Smith punched and kicked him in her living room.

She heard Hamilton yell “stab him” and saw Smith holding a knife while Hamilton had a hammer.

Mr Earl fled from the house, followed by the two accused.

Campbell, who gave her evidence from behind a screen, told the court : “They eventually got him on the grass.

“They started to attack him again with the hammer and knife before he stumbled away.”

The witness said Hamilton and Smith returned to her home where they borrowed fresh jumpers and put their bloodstained tops in bags.

She stated: “The blinds and walls were covered in blood.”

The victim was robbed of a mobile phone, wallet, keys and cannabis.