A Dundee man who tried to kill a friend moments after giving him a hug has been locked up for seven years.
John McGrandle shoved David Kettles down stairs then stabbed him with a knife.
McGrandle later insisted Kettles had injured himself during the incident in a common close in Dundee last November.
But, the 42 year-old was convicted of attempted murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Judge Sean Murphy QC told McGrandle the assault had “potentially fatal consequences” as he returned to the dock on Monday.
He also noted McGrandle already had convictions for assault and possession of a knife.
The judge further ordered him to be supervised for a further two years on his release.
McGrandle smiled and blew a kiss towards family in court as he was led handcuffed to the cells.
Mr Kettles had told a jury how he had been visiting his girlfriend at her flat in Dundee’s Court Street before going to a local shop.
When he returned, McGrandle was inside the close arguing with another resident Robert Ramsay.
Mr Kettles recalled letting Mr Ramsay into his partner’s home in a bid to “calm it down” before asking McGrandle to leave.
But, the witness went on: “He cuddled me, said alright – and then pushed me downstairs.”
Mr Kettles told they jury he then remembered blood “coming out” of him.
He initially thought he had been punched, but realising he had been stabbed.
Mr Kettles was asked if he had seen a knife and replied: “It was definitely a knife. I saw the glint. He was taking his anger out on me. It was meant for Rab.”
The victim had denied a claim he had grabbed a weapon from the kitchen and stabbed himself after falling downstairs.
He told the court: “I’ve never carried a knife or used a knife. I’m not a violent person.”
Mr Kettles also refuted an accusation that he had confronted McGrandle because the witness’s lover had cheated on him with the thug.
McGrandle was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by ditching the knife and then hiding in a wardrobe in a bid to avoid arrest.
Ronnie Renucci, defending, said the attack involved “an unusual set of circumstances”.
