Man (34) jailed for blade attack

Apr 30 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON man, who had been slashed with a Stanley knife blade, returned to the house where the attack took place to finish his carry out after being treated in hospital.

Mark Eadie went back to his assailant’s house in Holyrood Street to continue a drinking session after being treated for three cuts at Wishaw General.

Accused Douglas Ross (34), admitted a charge of striking Eadie on the head with a knife or similar instrument to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Hamilton Sheriff Court was told that Ross and Eadie were drinking in Ross’s home with others about 7pm on October 31 last year.

The fiscal depute said a few hours later Ross told someone there he thought Eadie was ‘growling’ at him.

The slashing took place in the kitchen and Eadie responded by hitting Ross with a Buckfast bottle, cutting Ross’ head.

Eadie then went to a neighbouring house where he called an ambulance.

When police arrived they noticed that Eadie had three cuts to his left cheek.

Ross’ solicitor Charles Ferguson told Sheriff John Stewart that Eadie was a relative of Ross’ girlfriend and the men were friends.

However, they both had too much to drink. He also pointed out that there had been an incident a short time before in which Eadie, Ross claimed, had struck the accused with a Buckfast bottle and Ross also had to undergo medical treatment.

Mr Ferguson explained that Ross had to take a large amount of medication for neurological problems, and he pointed out that the accused should not have been drinking on top of that medication.

The lawyer asked Sheriff Stewart to deal with the matter as leniently as possible taking into account Ross’s early guilty plea and the fact he had co-operated fully with the police.

Sheriff Stewart sentenced Ross to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.