Drug addict jailed for knifing stranger in Clydebank street

A drug addict brutally murdered a stranger who confronted him for hanging about the street, a court heard. Daniel Devlin knifed Dominic Brown (32) in Clydebank , West Dunbartonshire last August.

Devlin had been freed early from jail having earlier flouted a supervision order for a previous blade crime.

The 47 year-old had been in the area looking to buy heroin.

A judge heard Dominic and a friend had a “pulled up” Devlin for loitering outside one of their houses and also for raking through bins.

The victim staggered to his own home after being struck, but never recovered.

Devlin was jailed for a minimum 17 years after he pleaded guilty to murder at the High Court in Glasgow.

Lord Mulholland told he had “callously” inflicted an injury that had “little chance of survival”.

The hearing was told Devlin had 68 previous convictions stretching back to when he was 16.

In 2016, he was locked up for possession of a knife.

He was then to be supervised for 12 months on his release.

Devlin instead breached that order and was jailed for eight months.

But, he was again freed on April 13 2018 despite the term not expiring until August 14 of that year.

The murder tragically occurred nine days before it was to end.

Joiner Dominic – a dad who had never been in trouble with the police – had been out with friend Stephen Morgan at the Cleddan's pub in Clydebank.

Devlin and an associate meantime were close by looking to score drugs.

Prosecutor Margaret Barron said Dominic did not know Devlin, but that his friend was aware of him from the local area.

Devlin and his associate parted company outside a local grocers.

Miss Barron then explained: “Mr Morgan had become aware of Devlin being nearby.

“He and Mr Brown began to 'pull him up' for hanging around the front of Mr Morgan's house whilst under the influence.

“Mr Morgan was also annoyed with Devlin for going through bins.

“At some point Devlin responded to the remarks by giving them some cheek.”

The men challenged Devlin before Dominic went home.

Raging Devlin, however, returned to the flat of his wife Donna Marie Simpson (39) and grabbed a knife.

Dominic meantime was heading back to the pub.

Within around three minutes of leaving his home, the dad was stabbed by Devlin.

The attack was witnessed by a number of people.

Miss Barron said CCTV captured the victim “clutching his right hand side”.

The prosecutor added: “Mr Brown was backing away from Devlin when he was stabbed once to the torso.”

Dominic collapsed in his kitchen and was helped by his mum.

He was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead later that evening.

Devlin, of Glasgow's Garthamlock, later made no comment after being held for the killing.

The court heard claims Dominic and his friend had spoken to Devlin in an “unpleasant way” before the attack.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, said: “His whole life centred around satisfying his addiction.

“That is what he was doing on the day of these events. He was in the area of the pub trying to get heroin.”

Lord Mulholland told Devlin the jail-term would have been 18 years, but for the plea.

The judge added: “This was a young man – a son, a father and a brother.

“He was loved by his family and his life was callously taken by you.

“He suffered a catastrophic injury with little chance of survival.

Your record shows that you are no stranger to carrying a knife and have convictions for violence.”

Donna Marie Simpson had also faced the murder charge, but her not guilty plea was accepted.