Greenock dad faces jail after stabbing son in stomach

A dad is facing a jail sentence after stabbing his son in the stomach in a row over a damaged book.

At the High Court in Glasgow 49 year-old Gary Roe, from Greenock, admitted assaulting 20-year-old Declan to the danger of his life.

He was originally charged with attempting to murder Declan, but the Crown accepted his plea of guilty to the lesser charge.

Judge Lady Rae told Roe: “This was a very serious injury to your son. He could have died because of what you did.”

Roe stabbed his son once after a blazing row at his home in Regent Street, Greenock, on January 25. He then cleaned the knife of blood and put it back in the kitchen.

Meanwhile his son, who was bleeding from his injury, staggering out into the street.

Declan had gone to the house to confront his father about ripping the book.

Prosecutor Bobby Frazer said: “Declan had given a book to his 14-year-old sister as a gift and it had been damaged by the accused.

“As a result of this Gary Roe and his son were engaged in a heated argument.”

The court heard that Declan then left the house, before returning and kicking in the front door of his dad's flat.

Roe grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed his son once in the abdomen with it.

When police officers arrived on the scene Declan was in the street clutching a towel to his stomach to stem the bleeding. There was a blood trail leading up to the flat.”

Declan, referring to his injury, told police officers: “My dad done it in his house.”

Roe said that Declan had returned to the flat and kicked the door in and added: “He assaulted me in my house.”

Declan has been left with a scar to his abdomen. The knife wound cut through his liver.

Mr Frazer added: “If left untreated there was a potential danger to life.”

Defence QC Thomas Ross said: “He cares for two of his children, aged 14 and five, and is a loving caring responsible father to them. “

Roe, who is in custody, will be sentenced next month at the High Court in Edinburgh