A young man who stabbed a rival in front of terrified shoppers on a busy Perth street has been jailed.
Nicol Gatt admitted a bloody daylight attack outside a newsagent in the city’s Balhousie Street.
The 27-year-old was caught on CCTV holding victim Steven Holden in a headlock, before knifing him in the leg.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Gatt suspected Mr Holden was in a relationship with his ex-partner.
He armed himself with a blade and followed him to the Premier Balhousie Store.
The assault happened just before 10.30am on Sunday, July 19.
Sheriff William Wood said, despite letters praising Gatt from local church groups, he had no option but to send him to jail.
Blood-covered knife
Fiscal depute Gail Russell said: “The complainer knows the accused, and they don’t get on.
“At 10.25am Mr Holden was leaving the accused’s ex-partner’s address and was heading home when he was approached by the accused.
“He grabbed Mr Holden and pushed him against a wall. He dragged him to the ground and continued to punch him.”
Stunned onlookers tried to intervene and pull the two men apart, the court heard.
“During the assault, Mr Holden felt a sharp pain in his leg. Police who were on mobile patrol in the street were flagged down.
“A member of the public said someone was getting stabbed.”
Officers separated the pair. They saw Mr Holden had a bloodied nose and a stab wound to his left thigh.
A blood-covered knife was found lying nearby.
No option but prison
Gatt, of Bowton Road, Kinross, appeared for sentencing via videolink, having previously admitted assaulting Mr Holden by pushing him against a wall, pulling him to the ground, repeatedly punching his head and stabbing him to his injury.
Solicitor Billy Somerville said Mr Holden was not seriously hurt, and that the knife did not enter very deeply.
He said his client was taking steps to improve his prospects.
“With this case hanging over him, he seems to have done a great deal to try and better himself and move forward with his life,” he said.
Mr Somerville urged the court to consider alternatives to jail time.
Sheriff William Wood told Gatt: “While I understand you have had mental health difficulties, the nature of the charge, and the circumstances of which it happened, are of concern to the court.
“You should be under no illusion that this is very much a serious matter.”
He said: “On this particular day, as you admitted to your social worker, you followed Mr Holden from your friend’s house, because you thought there was something going on between him and your former partner, and you armed yourself with a knife and then carried out the assault.
“In all of these circumstances, there is no other option than a custodial sentence.”
Taking account of the remorse Gatt had shown, Sheriff Wood sentenced him to 16 months behind bars.
