Attacker knifed two men within minutes of each other

A YOUTH who was freed early from a jail sentence for serious assault carried out two knife attacks within minutes of each other.

Stephen Stewart stormed out of his home after arming himself with the weapon before slashing and stabbing victims in the streets.

Stewart (20), also known as Ross, of Rosehaugh Road, admitted carrying out the knife attacks in Inverness on 18th March when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh today.

A judge told him: "You have pled guilty to two very serious unprovoked assaults in each case using a knife."

Lord Tyre said he would defer sentence on him for the preparation of a background report including a risk assessment.

But the judge warned him: "Having regard to the nature of these offences and your past record you can expect to receive a substantial prison sentence."

The court heard that Stewart's offending went back to when he was just 16 and he was sentenced to 40 months detention in 2006 for assault to severe injury and danger of life by a High Court judge.

In 2009 he was detained for three years for a bottle attack resulting in severe injury and permanent disfigurement. He was out on licence from that sentence when he committed the latest attacks.

He admitted assaulting Andrew Sutherland to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement by striking him on the face with a knife at Coronation Park, and attacking Allan MacMillan to his injury and permanent disfigurement by wounding him on the body at Kessock Avenue.

Advocate depute Jane Farquharson said Stewart's mother described her son as "in a foul mood" and under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs on the evening of the attacks.

She became aware he had a knife and was threatening to harm himself, but after a few minutes he tucked the knife into the waistband of his trousers and headed out of the house.

Mr Sutherland was walking along the street heading home when he was approached by Stewart. "The accused was not known to Mr Sutherland, though he recognised him from seeing him in the area," Miss Farquharson said.

Stewart pushed his victim in the chest before producing the knife which he used to slash him on the right side of the face.

The prosecutor said: "Immediately having struck Mr Sutherland the accused showed remorse saying 'Don't phone the police, don't phone the police, don't grass me up. I'm sorry. I'm sorry'."

Once the victim made it home he contacted the police and asked for an ambulance. He was taken to Raigmore Hospital where nine stitched were used to close the facial wound.

About 10 minutes after the attack Stewart approached Mr MacMillan who was with his girlfriend and her cousin. He was clearly under the influence and unsteady on his feet.

Stewart asked him where he was from and when he replied "Dingwall" he butted him in the face before stabbing him in the stomach.

"Mr MacMillan describes feeling a sharp pain but did not realise exactly what had happened," the advocate depute said.

He was also taken to hospital and kept in overnight for observation.

They traced the attacker to the house of a girlfriend later that night and found Stewart asleep in bed. During a later interview he denied having assaulted anyone.