A man who stabbed his neighbour twice in the back has been jailed for seven years.
At the High Court in Glasgow 28-year-old Kevin Craig was convicted of assaulting Steven Chapman by stabbing him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life at a house in Kilncroft Terrace, Douglas, Lanarkshire, on November 19, 2011.
Temporary judge Norman Ritchie QC told Craig: "I regard you as a menace to the public."
Judge Ritchie added: "You presented yourself to the jury as the sort of person who would never do this sort of thing, yet you have previous convictions for violence and for carrying a knife.
"You struck a knife twice into Mr Chapman's back. He was helping you and you did this without provocation."
Advocate depute John Hamilton, prosecuting, said: "The accused has a number of previous convictions including one for assault to severe injury."
In evidence Craig claimed that he had been attacked by an axe-wielding Mr Chapman and had struck out with the knife in self-defence.
Craig, who is a prisoner in HMP Addiewell, told the jury: "Mr Chapman threw a glass tumbler at me and then he grabbed an axe.
"I jumped into the window and tried to get out the window, but I couldn't open it, so I grabbed a knife from the kitchen sink and stabbed him with it.
"I was just trying to get away. I panicked. I didn't put any force into it."
The jury did not accept Craig's version of events and convicted him of assault to danger of life.
Solicitor advocate Bob McCormack, defending, said: "Mr Craig's position is that he was attacked by Mr Chapman first and acted in self-defence."
