A violent thug who struck his victim in the face with a meat cleaver has been jailed for more than five years for attempted murder.
Logan Docherty left Adele Jenkins with “highly visible scarring” as he tried to kill her in her own Fife home, after shouting “I’m going to chop yous up.”
Ms Jenkins had tried to stop Docherty getting into the property, where there were children, in Stationhead Road, Lochgelly.
He had earlier been asked to leave but returned with the weapon.
She was rushed to hospital and treated for a deep cut from her forehead, alongside the bridge of her nose and through the full depth of her top lip, exposing her front teeth.
Police forced entry to Docherty’s address and found him asleep in bed after the attack.
The cleaver was discovered behind a television in the living room.
At the High Court in Edinburgh in December, Docherty, 23, admitted assaulting Ms Jenkins to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement and attempting to murder her on September 10 2022.
He appeared for sentence at the High Court in Aberdeen on Tuesday and was jailed for five years and eight months.
‘Humiliated’ by ejection
The sentencing judge told him: “You attacked a young woman in her home while her children were in the house.
“It was an unprovoked attack while you were under the influence of alcohol, in part because you felt humiliated about being asked to leave the house.
“You collected a meat cleaver from your own flat before returning and assaulting your victim.”
The judge said the horrific attack had had a “huge effect” on the woman, adding: “She has been left with severe facial scarring.”
Alcohol blamed
The earlier court hearing was told Docherty lived directly opposite the scene of the murder bid and was an acquaintance of the victim.
He had been out drinking with her brother and others in Cowdenbeath and went to the flat when the rest of the party moved on to Dunfermline.
They returned to the Lochgelly flat and Docherty was still there, intoxicated.
He was asked to leave and did so but returned to launch his savage attack.
His defence agent stated: “Alcohol and he don’t necessarily mix.
“He’s not somebody who drinks regularly but when he does drink he perhaps drinks too much.
“It’s quite clear he hadn’t thought through the consequences of his actions.”
Full details of Mr Martin’s plea in mitigation are not available as court staff did not open the court to the public and press until midway through the hearing.
Previous victim took his own life
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard in January 2019 how a house-warming party came to a ghastly end when guest Stewart Drummond was partially blinded when Docherty hurled a bottle and the shattered glass struck his eye.
Mr Drummond later took his own life.
Sheriff Charles MacNair told Docherty while it could not be known if Mr Drummond killed himself as a result of the incident, it would have been a “life-changing” event.
He said: “You may not have foreseen the precise nature of the injuries caused.
“However, you certainly could have foreseen that your actions would cause him significant injury.”
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