A man who inflicted “life-changing” injuries on a neighbour in a savage knife attack amid a row over a parking space has been jailed for more than seven years.
Stephen McAulay, 35, stabbed James Duncan “multiple times” to the head and body during the incident outside their homes in the Carntyne area of Glasgow on 13 May 2024.
It came after bus driver McAulay sustained a minor facial injury during an earlier confrontation over a parking space on their road, with the attacker later returning armed with a blade.
Judge Lord Young told McAulay: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of that dispute, you would not let the matter rest.”
Crane operator Mr Duncan required emergency surgery to a chest wound, while injuries to his head resulted in “significant” loss of vision to one eye.
The judge described the injuries as “life-changing”, adding: “This appears to be an attack caused more by intoxication and loss of face than anything else.”
McAulay last month pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Lord Young dismissed McAulay’s claim that he had taken the knife with him in “self-defence”.
The judge said: “You went looking for your victim to continue the argument, and you took a knife with you that you were prepared to use.”
Lord Young highlighted Mr Duncan’s victim impact statement, noting: “He will struggle to return to work. These were truly life-changing injuries that you have inflicted.”
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Earlier, defence solicitor Ross Yuill described his client’s decision to “arm himself with a knife” and confront his neighbour as “inexplicable”.
The lawyer said McAulay has now had his first experience of custody which he found challenging.
He added: “The consequence for him will be a period of custody but also he will miss the birth of his child.”
Mr Yuill said McAulay was “sorry” for the incident and he “wishes again to offer his apologies to the complainer having had significant time to reflect on his actions”.
