Offender slashed man in knife attack the day he was freed on bail by court

A violent offender who slashed a man in a knife attack in the street on the day he was freed on bail by a court has been jailed for four and a half years.

James Knotts and an accomplice assaulted the victim, slashing him in the face and leaving him scarred.

The offence was committed while Knotts was released early from a prior jail sentence and on the day he was released on bail.

Lord Ericht ordered that Knotts be under supervision for a further three years after his four-and-a-half-year prison sentence when he will be on licence and can be returned to jail if he breaches its conditions.

Knotts, 26, earlier admitted assaulting the man on January 11 last year at Benthall Street, in Glasgow, while acting with another and struck him on the head with a knife to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

He was granted bail at Glasgow Sheriff Court on the same date.

Knotts and his accomplice were wearing balaclavas and were armed with knives when they approached their victim.

They chased after him, and when they caught up with him, he was knocked to the ground, and a knife was used to cut his face.

After the attack, the victim was left shouting: “What have I done?”. The injured man sustained a three-inch wound to the side of his face that was closed with seven stitches and glue.

The judge told Knotts he would have faced a sentence totalling eight years but for his guilty plea, Adding: “You have a very bad record of convictions for assault, including assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.”