An inmate was slashed several times with a makeshift weapon after trying to claim a refund for a dodgy prison tattoo from a convicted murderer.
Christopher Rennie was left covered in blood and needed 13 stitches after being attacked by killer Daniel Ross in a row over the homemade tattoo he had been given behind bars.
Ross, 29, was sentenced to 45 months yesterday after he admitted assaulting Mr Rennie with an improvised bladed weapon in Perth Prison on March 3 last year.
Ross, from Dunfermline, murdered his cousin Gavin Ross, 28, by stabbing him 23 times.
Depute fiscal Chris Macintosh told Perth Sheriff Court: “He is serving a life sentence for murder. The complainer was a prisoner serving five years.
“The accused punched the complainer in the face from within the cell. The accused made a slashing movement towards the rear of the complainer’s head.
“There was a struggle between the two of them and the accused repeatedly struck the complainer on the head with a weapon. The complainer was bleeding heavily.
“He was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary. He had lacerations to his face, head and forearm.”
He had two six centimetre cuts and one four centimetre cut.
Solicitor Iain McCafferty, defending, said: “They had known each other for a year prior to this and their relationship had been nothing other than good.
“Ross had performed a tattoo on him. Payment was tobacco and that had been tendered to Ross. It appears the complainer was not necessarily happy with the tattoo. He was demanding the return of his tobacco.”
Mr McCafferty said the victim had arrived with the weapon but Ross had taken it during the struggle and used it to slash him.
Ross killed his cousin in April 2015, despite being described in court as best friends.
The pair had a row before Daniel Ross stabbed Gavin, who was recuperating after being treated for a blood clot.
Ross was jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow after he pled guilty to murder. A minimum period of 15 years was imposed.
Lord Turnbull described the killing as a “vicious and prolonged attack” which involved Ross stabbing his cousin 11 times in the chest.
Detective Sergeant Neil Seath said: “Gavin had taken his cousin into his home as an act of kindness and was subsequently subjected to a significant level of violence, which led to his death.”
