A high risk, repeat offender was jailed for seven and a half years today after brutally stabbing a pet owner who was left walking the streets covered in blood with his dog.
Alistair Thompson cut Alexander Powell above the left eye with a knife and as the victim tried to staunch the bleeding shouted at him for staining his carpet with blood.
Thompson then went into the kitchen of his flat in Aberdeen and returned with a larger knife and stabbed Mr Powell in the neck and shoulder.
The attack victim managed to escape from the house in Seaton Road with his dog and was seen walking with the animal.
A passerby went to ask him if he was alright but Mr Powell, 44, collapsed and a 999 call was made for help.
The victim was given a blood transfusion at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and underwent surgery to stop bleeding from the neck wound.
Unemployed Thompson, 43, was charged with attempting to murder the victim on July 20 last year but pled guilty to a reduced charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.
A judge told Thompson at the High Court in Edinburgh: “The level of violence used here can only be marked by a significant period in custody.”
Lord Boyd of Duncansby told him that if he had been found guilty after a trial he would have jailed him for 10 years from the crime.
The judge told him: “It is clear that drink and drugs have played a big part in your life.”
He warned that until he addressed that he would continue to offend and pose a danger to the public.
Lord Boyd said a background report on Thompson showed that he had no remorse or sympathy for the victim of his latest offence.
The judge ordered that Thompson should be under supervision for a further six-year period for public protection. Mr Powell had gone to a friend’s home the previous evening and Thompson had turned up there and asked him if he wanted to come back to his flat for a drink.
The court heard that the two men had known each other for years and were acquaintances with no previous trouble between them.
Mr Powell agreed to go to Thompson’s home but said he would need to get his dog first. Both men were drinking at the flat.
A thunder and lightning storm broke out during the early hours of the morning and Thompson wanted the other man to leave his flat, but Mr Powell was at first reluctant because he was worried about the effect of the weather on his dog.
But he realised Thompson’s behaviour was becoming more erratic and agreed to go.
He was gathering up his belongings when he saw a knife coming towards his head. He tried to move away and the blade cut him above his left eye.
Mr Powell fell forward on the floor and used his cardigan to try and stop the bleeding but Thompson began shouting at him for bleeding on his carpet before continuing the attack with the second, bigger knife.
After the injured man was found he said Thompson had stabbed him after claiming his dog bit him on the arm. He told police officers Thompson was angry over the bite and grabbed a knife and went for him.
When officers went to Thompson’s address they found spots of blood on the stairs leading to his flat. Thompson opened the door to them but was continually mumbling.
Defence counsel Edith Forrest told the court that there were no psychiatric or mental health issues with Thompson.
But she added that a report prepared on him “details a man who clearly has a chronic alcohol problem which undoubtedly is the root cause of most of his offending”.
She said he had a chaotic lifestyle and a significant criminal record.
Thompson’s convictions include serious assault and he was jailed for the offence for four years in 2011.
