Hamilton man jailed for two separate stabbings

Jun 23 2011 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON thug who stabbed two men in separate incidents has been jailed for nearly five years.

Andrew Falconer (22) – who had hoped to set up his own ice cream van franchise – will also be on licence for three years upon the completion of his prison sentence.

The accused – whose address was given as Barlinnie Prison – earlier pleaded guilty to four charges involving two separate incidents this year.

Falconer admitted stabbing Ian Lynch with a knife to his severe injury and to the danger of his life during an altercation outside an address in Larkhall’s Ferndale on January 1 this year.

And he also pleaded guilty to assaulting a Rachel Hobson, while acting with others, by punching her, causing her to fall to the ground and repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head and body to her injury.

This attack took place outside the address on the same date.

Falconer also admitted stabbing a second man, Steven Armstrong, on the body with a knife to his severe injury later this year.

He knifed Mr Armstrong in Hamilton’s Highstonehall Road on April 23, while he was on bail for other matters.

He also admitted breaching bail conditions by being outwith his bail address on the night he attacked Mr Armstrong, despite being required to remain there between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

Hamilton Sheriff Court earlier had been told how a fight had erupted between two groups of people at a New Year’s Party in Larkhall at about 1.30am on January 1.

During the fight, Mr Lynch was stabbed in the back by Falconer.

He suffered a collapsed lung and had fluid in his lung. Doctors at Hairmyres Hospital described his injury as potentially life-threatening, the court was told.

In another incident, Falconer stabbed Mr Armstrong while on bail for the earlier attack.

He had been one of a group of youths who had attended a party in Highstonehall Road that evening.

In the early hours of the morning Mr Armstrong, a neighbour, heard a disturbance outside the party and looked out to see a youth leaning on his car.

When he confronted the group outside, Falconer stabbed him to his lower left back.

The victim was taken to Hairmyres Hospital, where fluid was also found in his lung.

At court on Monday, solicitor-advocate Charles Ferguson, defending, said that Falconer had made efforts to stay out of trouble prior to the attacks.

He also told Sheriff Danny Scullion that his client had recently obtained a driver’s licence, his own accomodation, as well as the prospect of employment.

Falconer had been in contact with the Mr Whippy Ice Cream company, explained Mr Ferguson, and was expecting to acquire his own franchise in the coming months.

The lawyer also explained that there had been issues over Falconer’s access to see his two-year-old daughter.

“The effect of not seeing his child, as a young man, led to considerable frustration and resentment on his part.

“Only just prior to his incarceration for this matter, he had been getting access to his daughter. Supervised contact had only just begun.”

However, Sheriff Scullion pointed out Falconer’s previous convictions for assault with a weapon.

He also noted that a report suggested that the accused was at high risk of reoffending upon release, and that Falconer was fortunate not to have his case called at the High Court.

After a short adjournment, Sheriff Scullion sentenced Falconer to 4 years and eight months’ imprisonment for the stabbing offences, along with a three-year supervised release order.

He was also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for both the assault on Ms Hobson and breaching bail. These periods will be served concurrently with the jail term for the stabbing.

The sentences were backdated to April 27, to reflect time already spent in custody.