Man who repeatedly stabbed teenager in murder bid jailed

A man who tried to murder an 18-year-old by repeatedly stabbing him has been jailed for six years.

Andrew Sutherland, 29, attacked Reece Warnock at Princess Street, Port Glasgow, on August 27, 2019.

Sutherland pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to attempting to murder Mr Warnock.

Judge Lord Armstrong said: “You struck him repeatedly with a knife and kicked him on the head and body.

“That attack was brutal, excessively violent and a sustained attack perpetrated by a bladed weapon.

“It took place on a public street in front of people going about their daily business.

‘It was a ferocious and murderous attack and the injuries inflicted on him were life threatening.’
Judge Lord Armstrong

“It was a ferocious and murderous attack and the injuries inflicted on him were life threatening.

“His mother’s victim impact statement says the attack and its consequences have had a devastating effect on his life.”

The judge also imposed a three-year extended sentence upon his release.

An earlier hearing was told Reece, 18, was carrying out a court community payback order in Port Glasgow and was followed into a Spar store by Sutherland at around 3pm.

Reece browsed in the store and then walked back out to the Inverclyde Council minivan which was transporting him and others to their work placements.

Prosecutor Owen Mullan said: “Reece Warnock appeared oblivious to the fact that the accused was walking after him.

“The accused then seized Reece Warnock by the body and then repeatedly struck him with a knife.

“The CCTV footage shows the accused in possession of a knife and striking Reece Warnock and then kicking him on the body while he was on the ground.

“The accused was captured on CCTV closing over what appears to be a lock back knife.”

Sutherland then got into a taxi with another man and drove away. Reece managed to get to his feet and entered the Semi Chem store where he collapsed in front of shocked shop workers. The CCTV footage was shown in court.

Reece was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley suffering from a liver laceration, collapsed lungs and multiple cuts to his arms.

Mr Mullan said: “His injuries were deemed life threatening. He was discharged from hospital on August 31, 2019.

“He died on October 17, 2019, from a drugs overdose. At the time of his death, he was living at home with his mother and brother.”

At the time of the murder bid Sutherland was out on licence. He was sentenced to five years at the High Court in Glasgow in 2016 for assault to danger of life and released on November 21, 2018.

John McIlroy, defending, told the court Sutherland “came across someone he had a difficulty with.”

He added: “The difficulties cost him to stupidly behave in that way.

“He took advantage of him and dealt with him in the way that he did when he never should have done – he bitterly regrets this.”