Beggar left man with neck injury in knife attack after street confrontation

A beggar inflicted a potentially life-threatening injury on a man in a knife attack on a busy city centre street.

William Hawkins wounded the man on the neck with the weapon after the pair got into a confrontation that was captured on CCTV.

Footage of the assault was shown to a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh who told Hawkins: “You will appreciate the only possible disposal is a custodial sentence.”

Lady Haldane said that Hawkins’ reaction in using the knife to cut the victim on the neck was “a wholly disproportionate reaction” to the events.

Hawkins, 39, a prisoner in Perth jail, admitted assaulting the man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life on October 10 last year at Reform Street, in Dundee, by striking him on the neck with a knife.

The court heard that Hawkins has a lengthy record of offending, including crimes of dishonesty, violence and disorder and was previously jailed but his latest crime had resulted in his first prosecution in the High Court.

Unemployed Hawkins was staying in council-run accommodation for homeless people at the time of the attack on the man.

Hawkins was begging in the area which was busy when the victim saw him and approached him as he sat on the ground. There had been an altercation between the men two weeks before.

Hawkins stood up as a confrontation occurred and they argued before the blow with the knife was struck. The victim was left bleeding from his neck and members of the public, who could see he was injured, tried to help.

Police were called and observed that the victim had a neck injury, which was later assessed to be potentially life threatening.

The court heard that Hawkins had “a chaotic lifestyle” at the time of the knife attack.

Sentence was deferred on him for the preparation of a background report and he was told he will remain remanded in custody.