**A man who attacked a new friend with a machete after claiming he put his hand down his boxer shorts has been jailed.
Kevin Comiskey met James Sutcliffe over a game of pool in a bar but claimed he attacked Mr Sutcliffe when his victim "touched him up" after they had gone home together.
Comiskey told a jury he had fallen asleep after drinking lager and taking ten Valium pills. He said he woke up to find Mr Sutcliffe’s hand down his boxer shorts.
Sheriff Robert McCreadie said: "A machete and a dagger were involved. The complainer's blood was found on both. At the very least it is a sustained attack and some people might describe it as a frenzied attack. Anyone would be shocked and horrified by it. Any of these wounds in the wrong place could have been fatal."
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Mr Sutcliffe sustained six stab wounds to the neck, along with defensive injuries to his arms and hands. He also suffered hypothermia after staggering from his flat and collapsing outside. In addition, he had four broken ribs.
The court was told that Mr Sutcliffe was left outside for several hours overnight on December 8 before eventually being taken to hospital and placed on a drip.
Comiskey was found guilty of assaulting Mr Sutcliffe on December 8 or 9 at his Church Lane home by stabbing him on the head and body to his severe injury.
He said he did not know his victim before that evening, but had played pool with him in a bar and they had returned to Comiskey's home to continue drinking.
Comiskey told the court: “I woke up with my belt and buttons undone and he had his hands down my boxer shorts. I then tried to hit him on the face, but I didn't properly connect the punch, so he punched me straight back.
"I thought he was coming for me and he was blocking both exits so I headed towards the fireplace and picked up an ornamental dagger to defend myself. He came for me. We got into a bit of a scuffle and then I don't know. It is likely that I could have stabbed him, though, because I was holding a dagger."
The court heard blood from Mr Sutcliffe was found on the machete and dagger.
Mr Sutcliffe told the jury: "I would like to say for the record: I am bisexual, but I've never forced myself on anyone. Why would I do that?"
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "The complainer and the accused had been comfortable in each other's company in the public house. Something then took place which caused the incident and the injuries. His response was disproportionate and unacceptable. He has been intoxicated many times before and never behaved in that manner."
Sheriff McCreadie said: "Whether it was the machete or the dagger or both is unclear. There was blood on both. There was no possible justification for such an attack even if what he said happened did happen."
Comiskey was jailed for 28 months and 15 days.
