A pair of armed thugs who chased a man before stabbing him in a murder bid were jailed for nine years each.
Corey Taylor, 25, from Falkirk and and 27-year-old Kevin Kelly from Stirling took part in the pursuit before he was wounded in a street attack in Bonnybridge.
The pair earlier stood trial having denied the attempted murder of Craig Campbell but were found guilty of the crime.
Judge John Morris KC told them at the High Court in Edinburgh: “Both of you have atrocious criminal records for violent offending.”
He said the pair represented a danger to the public and also ordered they be under supervision in the community for a further two-year period after release.
Taylor and Kelly were convicted of assaulting and attempting to murder Mr Campbell on December 23 2023 at Duncairn Avenue, in Bonnybridge.
The victim was stabbed in the abdomen.
Taylor had been freed under three separate bail orders at the time with the most recent granted at Falkirk Sheriff Court three days before.
During the trial he maintained that he acted in self-defence and under provocation.
The violent pair were also convicted of assaulting a second man, Alan Fulton, on the same day in the same street by chasing him while brandishing knives during a drink and drug-fuelled confrontation.
Defence counsel Wendy Culross, for Taylor, said he had “a relevant and concerning record of offending” and regretted what happened and is remorseful.
She told the court that Taylor suffered adverse childhood experiences and added: “He has used substances and alcohol from a young age. He was working with addiction services in the community prior to his incarceration.”
Defence counsel George Gebbie, for Kelly, said he was convicted of attempted murder “in a classic concert situation”, although it was clear he did not strike any blow to the victim of the crime.
The judge made a non-harassment order prohibiting them contacting or attempting to contact the victim of the attempted murder indefinitely.
‘Demons’ assault
A church pastor from Stirling molested a female parishioner while pretending he was “removing demons” from her body, a trial has determined. Walter Masocha repeatedly groped the married woman at his home in Stirling and also attempted to rape a young single female during a campaign of sexual abuse spanning six years. The full story can be read here.
Armed threat
An armed man who threatened a member of staff in a Stirlingshire bar has been sentenced.
John Masters, from Cambusbarron, previously pled guilty to threatening or abusive behaviour in his home village’s Forester’s Arms on March 8 this year.
The 41-year-old admitted he held a wooden implement behind his back and made a violent threat towards a female employee.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahoney ordered Masters to complete 130 hours of unpaid work in the next year as a direct alternative to custody.
The sheriff said: “He’s been out of trouble for three years. I hope that we won’t see you again at all.”
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