Angus’ top police officer has hailed the 40-month jail sentence given to a man who stabbed his friend in the street.
One of Brechin’s main roads was left covered in “pools of blood” after Simon Walker stabbed James Alan in August this year.
Walker has been in custody since the attack on August 16 and will be subject to a year-long supervised release order after he leaves Perth prison.
Mr Alan, 35, sustained “life-threatening” wounds and required hospital treatment following the incident on Montrose Street at around 2.20am.
Chief Inspector Gordon Milne said anyone tempted to carry a weapon must “take notice” of the sentence.
He said: “Nobody should think for one second that the carrying of a knife or weapon in any way gives them protection, somehow makes them invincible, or makes them a bigger person.
“Take notice if you are found carrying a weapon or knife you will get arrested, you will go to court and as this case proves, if you cause harm to others there is every chance that you will be sent to prison.
“Violence is a blight on our developed society and Police Scotland will take every and any opportunity to stop, search, seize and arrest where we believe someone is carrying a blade.”
Sentence was handed down by Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar Sheriff Court, after the 25-year-old admitted a charge of assault to severe injury and danger of life.
Depute fiscal Douglas Wiseman said Mr Alan’s house, the street outside and the exterior of Walker’s flat were left bloody after the incident.
Walker lived approximately 20 metres away.
Mr Wiseman said Mr Alan’s home had “obvious bloodstains and signs of struggle” and there was also blood in his common close.
There were “heavy bloodstains” along a 100-metre stretch of road between the flats, and where Mr Alan “last collapsed” in the street.
He said the accused had been drinking with a witness around 7pm on August 15 and remained at the Victoria Bar until 12.30pm, where they were joined by two barmaids before the group walked to a nearby caravan park to drink further.
Two police officers saw the men and Mr Alan outside the accused’s house at 2.05am.
They later went into the complainer’s house, where he began to cry over the death of a family member.
Mr Wiseman said Walker attempted to “console him” but the complainer reacted angrily, pushing the witness over and wrestling with Walker.
The witness left the flat and saw Walker run to his flat and back again, where he was hit by Mr Alan in the face with a vodka bottle.
He then stabbed the complainer twice with a knife he had brought from his flat.
Mr Wiseman said witnesses heard him repeat: “I’ve stabbed him.”
He was also heard in the street shouting: “I’ve stabbed Jim. He’s lying there dead. Phone the bobbies.”