Man jailed over hammer attack in Clydebank
James Rae attacked Scott Ferns in an argument over a drug debt in September
Last updated 28th Nov 2019
A forklift driver who attacked a man with a hammer in Clydebank over a drug debt has been jailed for three years and four months.
At the High Court in Glasgow James Rae, 41 from Dalmuir, admitted assaulting Scott Ferns, 31, to the danger of his life.
The attack took place at Rae's home on September 2 after Mr Ferns went there demanding payment.
Prosecutor Blair Speed said: “At 11:30 on September 2 Scott Ferns went to James Rae's house to collect payment for a debt.”
“The accused's position was that the debt was for street Valium and heroin.”
When Rae said he was unable to pay the debt Mr Ferns took his house keys and refused to return them.
Rae lifted a hammer and chased Mr Ferns into the street before hitting him on the head four or five times. He also hit Mr Ferns on the ribs and legs with the hammer.
After carrying out the assault Rae went to Clydebank Police Station and confessed saying: “I’m going to plead guilty to it. The boy I assaulted was Scott Ferns.”
Mr Ferns was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow where he was examined and found to have a cut above his left eyebrow, two fractures to his left eye socket, a fractured skull, a broken rib and a collapsed lung.
Defence Counsel Tony Lenehan said of Rae who has previous convictions, but who had been out of trouble for 13 years: “Trouble came looking for him, he didn’t go looking for trouble.”
Judge Lady Stacey told Rae: “You must know how very dangerous it is to do what you did and hit a man with a hammer. You and Mr Ferns are lucky it was not more serious than it was.”
Rae was jailed for seven years in 2000 for assault with intent to rob.
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