A thug who tried to kill his girlfriend while high on drink and drugs has been jailed for almost seven years.
Terry Newlands repeatedly stabbed his partner Suzanne Matheson with a knife on October 15 last year and only stopped the sustained attack when someone dragged him off of her.
The “terrifying” incident left Ms Matheson with “horrific” injuries to her neck and ear which will leave permanent scarring for life.
When Newlands, who admitted a charge of attempted murder, told social workers it had been his intention to kill her.
The High Court in Aberdeen heard that Newlands had stopped taking the medication which had been prescribed to help control his anger on the day of the incident.
He then fuelled himself with alcohol and Valium before going round to see his girlfriend in Deas Avenue, Dingwall, before attacking her with the knife.
Advocate Ronnie Renucci said his client had suffered an extremely difficult upbringing.
“From the age of seven he believed his 07father was dead. It was not until he was 11 that he found out he was serving a life sentence in prison,” he said.
On sentencing, Lord Burns told Newlands that the incident had been “truly terrifying” for his victim.
He said: “This truly was an attempt to murder this young girl which seems to have been brought about after you stopped taking your medication.”
Newlands, a prisoner in Polmont, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison which had been reduced from nine years to reflect his early plea.
He was also given a three year extended sentence which will be served on his release.
