A PERTHSHIRE youth who stabbed his best friend around a dozen times in a “frenzied attack” with a bread knife after taking a cocktail of alcohol and drugs was yesterday sentenced to 30 months’ detention at Perth Sheriff Court.

A jury had previously returned a majority guilty verdict on Paul Lochrane (19), Princes Croft, Coupar Angus, who had previously denied that, on December 22, at Hill Garden, Coupar Angus, he assaulted Graham Brown by repeatedly stabbing him on the body and leg with a knife to his severe injury.

Mr Brown was taken to Ninewells Hospital where he was given stitches after suffering seven knife wounds to his back, front, arms and legs. The victim had initially tried to stitch up the wounds himself.

Lochrane had carried out the attack after taking cider, vodka, amphetamine and valium.

Yesterday, David Holmes, solicitor for Lochrane, said that his client regarded the stabbing as a “mystery.”

Mr Holmes continued, “He understands his conduct was fully unacceptable. Clearly alcohol was an issue, but now it’s a life-threatening matter.”

Sentencing Lochrane, Sheriff Michael Fletcher told him, “Your agent has described this incident as puzzling because you attacked a man who was your friend until this happened.

“Maybe it’s not so puzzling after seeing the effects of alcohol and drugs combined together.

“The only option available to me is to impose a substantial custodial sentence as you have been described as a high-risk offender and a medium risk to the public.”

Sentence was backdated to October 30 and Sheriff Fletcher also imposed a supervised release order for one year.