Two men used a vacuum cleaner to try to kill a friend during a brutal murder attempt in Inverness.
Colin Dingwall, 21, and Steven Burns, 25, pounced on Lee Fraser in the victim’s home in Friars Street last December.
The 27-year-old was left with horrific injuries – including a fractured skull – following the attack.
Mr Fraser was battered with the vacuum cleaner, pots and bottles. He was also punched, kicked and struck with a knife.
He was found bundled in a cupboard when police later arrived.
Dingwall and Burns were later snared, but initially denied being involved.
Dingwall even claimed Lee was “such a good friend”.
They now face lengthy jail-term after each admitting an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.
The motive for the violence in not known.
But, the duo were at Mr Fraser’s flat when Burns initially started lashing out.
Dingwall then joined in as the bleeding victim begged for them to stop.
Prosecutor Derick Nelson said: “They remained mostly silent other than to tell Lee Fraser: ‘You are going to die today’.”
After the violence ended, Lee was tied up with a bedsheet and shoved in a cupboard.
It was a passer-by who heard the victim’s cries for help.
The attackers meantime called a woman to pick them up at a local supermarket.
Dingwall claimed he had to “get out of town”.
One of them was later heard during the journey admitting they had “just slashed a male called Lee”.
A paramedic who initially treated Mr Fraser branded his injuries “horrific”.
Mr Nelson: “Lee Fraser said he could not walk to the ambulance as his legs and knees were too sore.”
He had a host of injuries including skull and nose fractures as well as multiple wounds.
The court was told the victim has moved out of the Inverness area as he was too scared to return.
Dingwall and Burns were traced by police.
Mr Nelson: “Dingwall said he did not know Lee Fraser had been assaulted and did not understand why he was being questioned as he was such a good friend.”
Burns also insisted he was on good terms with Mr Fraser adding he “would like to know” what happened.
The court was told the pair, also of Inverness, already had lengthy criminal records.
Judge Johanna Johnston QC said: “You have accepted the attempted murder of a man who was said to be your friend.
“This was a savage and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable person.”
They were remanded as sentencing was deferred until next month.
Police welcomed news of the conviction of Dingwall and Burns.
Detective Chief Inspector Maggie Miller said: “Colin Dingwall and Steven Burns subjected their victim to a prolonged and extremely violent attack, leaving him with a number of severe injuries.
“Their victim feared for his life throughout this sustained attack and was left with a number of severe injuries which, while not life-threatening, will have a lasting effect .
“Neither Dingwall nor Burns accepted responsibility for what they did during the initial police investigation until they accepted responsibility in court today when faced with the evidence against them.
“These violent individuals will now face the consequences of their actions and I hope this will allow their victim to move on from this ordeal.”
