Man who attacked his ex-girlfriend's parents with a chainsaw jailed

A man who attacked his ex-girlfriend's elderly parents with a chainsaw in Fort William days after she split up with him has been jailed for 12 years.

James MacDonald almost hacked off John MacPherson's arm after bursting into the pensioner's home and threatening to kill the victim's daughter, Tracey.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how he stood in the family's living room revving the chainsaw before turning it on 74-year-old Mr MacPherson's terrified wife, Flora.

Mr MacPherson tried to save his 63-year-old wife and was left with massive injuries as MacDonald attacked him with the saw.

Judge Lord Boyd heard how the couple told each other they loved one another as John feared he was going to die.

His life was only saved thanks to the skills displayed by medical staff.

Details of the horror attack emerged last month as MacDonald admitted the attempted murder of Mr MacPherson and other charges. Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about MacDonald's background.

But on Tuesday, at the High Court in Edinburgh Lord Boyd had told the offender how he had no other option but to send him to prison.

After hearing from defence advocate Graham Robertson about how his client had expressed remorse for his actions, Lord Boyd told MacDonald that he had inflicted "horrific" injuries on his victim.

Passing sentence, Lord Boyd said: "This was a cruel and cowardly attack on an elderly couple who had done you no harm but had the misfortune of being the parents of the women who had recently been your partner. The injuries that you caused were truly horrific.

"In Mr MacPherson's case, it was only by the skill of the medical teams at Belford Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary the he survived.

"I note that he had to undergo a nine hour operation to reattach his right arm.

"The consequences, both physical and psychological, will be with both of Mr and Mrs MacPherson for the rest of their lives.

"In Mr MacPherson's case he will be left with functional deficits in both upper limbs and hands.

"So far as Tracey MacPherson is concerned she escaped physical injury, but I have no doubt that the psychological injury will be particularly acute.

"The extent of the injury and suffering that you caused to all your victims is graphically recounted in their victim statements.

"I have read the criminal justice social work report. I am prepared to accept Mr Robertson's submission that you are remorseful though I am bound to say that does not come across from the report. Indeed you appear to minimise your actions.

"This was a murderous attack on an innocent elderly couple leaving with them with life changing and lifelong injuries. It can only be marked by a lengthy custodial sentence."

At his appearance at the High Court in Glasgow last month, MacDonald, originally of Fort William, also pleaded guilty to assaulting Mrs MacPherson to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment as well to the danger of her life.

He also admitted charges of behaving in a threatening manner and having an offensive weapon.

The court heard how MacDonald was in a relationship with Tracey MacPherson for more than two years but she left him in July.

She moved back in with her parents in Fort William but her former partner continued to hound her. Prosecutor Ross Macfarlane QC said: "He told her repeatedly that he was going to kill her."

On the day of attacks - Tuesday, July 19 - MacDonald was spotted with a chainsaw under his seat at a bar in the village of Caol, near Fort William.

The 48-year-old entered the MacPhersons' home via a back door around 8pm while the couple were watching television.

Their daughter was upstairs. MacDonald turned on the saw and yelled: "Where is Tracey, the f** bitch? I'm going to kill her tonight."

He kept revving the chainsaw before striking out at his former lover's mother, hitting her on the arm.

Her husband, who had previously suffered a stroke, leapt out of his chair to protect his wife and MacDonald repeatedly lashed out at him, causing him to slump to the floor.

Mrs MacPherson screamed that Tracey was not in and the attacker raced out with the chainsaw still revving. The OAP dialled 999 and then went to help her blood-soaked husband.

Prosecutor Mr Macfarlane said: "They told each other that they loved one another. John MacPherson said that he was going to die and to tell his children that he loved them. He also started to pray."

The pensioner was taken to hospital and later transferred to Glasgow with "catastrophic" injuries. Mr Macfarlane said: "His right arm was partially amputated, almost severed just below the shoulder."

He went through a nine-hour operation to reattach his arm and was also treated for a large wound from his jaw to his neck.

Medics said he would have died if he had not received treatment immediately. He was left permanently scarred and his injured arm is now shorter than the other, the court was told.

MacDonald, of Fort William, was caught by police at a nearby canal after the attacks and told officers: "I admit what I have done."

On Tuesday, Mr Robertson asked for the judge to show his client leniency.

He added: "He has expressed remorse for his actions." However, Lord Boyd told him that a lengthy custodial sentence was the only disposal available to the court. He added: "James Macdonald, you have pled guilty to the attempted murder of John MacPherson and the assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger of life of his wife Flora MacPherson.

"By your plea of guilty to attempted murder you have accepted that either you set out to deliberately kill Mr MacPherson or that you displayed such gross and wicked recklessness as to not care whether or not he lived or died."

• Scottish News