Thug jailed for stabbing his friend in a 'scuffle' in a Lanarkshire street
Last updated 27th Sep 2017
A thug who repeatedly stabbed his friend a "wee scuffle" in a street in Lanarkshire has been jailed for 26 months.
David Dowson, 22, left Robert Carter scarred for life following the incident in Manse Road, Newmains on February 6 2017.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how Mr Carter suffered three wounds to his back and head following a row between the pair.
Dowson, of Wishaw, was arrested shortly afterwards and he pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Carter to the danger of his life last month.
However, on Thursday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Turnbull heard that the injuries sustained by Mr Carter were treated successfully by hospital staff.
Passing sentence, the judge told Dowson that his behaviour was unacceptable and that jail was unavoidable.
He added: "I have taken everything which your counsel has said on your behalf as well as the fact that you have pleaded guilty.
"However, it is plain that the only sentence which can be imposed in these circumstances that can reflect the gravity of the offence is a custodial one."
At proceedings last month, prosecutor Jim Keegan QC told the court that both men had been out with each other before an argument broke out.
Mr Keegan said this resulted in "pushing and an exchange of blows".
Dowson ended up clutching a knife before repeatedly striking Mr Carter.
The injured man managed to escape into a nearby chemist for help. Dowson followed him in and admitted to stunned staff: "It was me that done it."
However, he claimed that Mr Carter had hit him with a bottle.
Mr Carter was treated at hospital for potentially life threatening injury.
He also told police that Dowson was his attacker. Mr Carter said there had been a "wee scuffle" between them and that there had been "no need" to stab him.
Dowson was on bail for another alleged offence at the time of the crime.
On Wednesday, defence counsel Tony Graham QC told the court that his client had expressed remorse for his actions.
Lord Turnbull said that if Dowson had gone to trial and had been convicted by jurors, he would have received a four year sentence.
However, Lord Turnbull said he discounted four months from Dowson's sentence because of his guilty plea.
The judge also said that he discounted another six months to take into account that Dowson has already spent that period of time on remand for the crime.