Intruder stabbed former soldier during house break-in

An intruder who repeatedly stabbed a man who caught him breaking into his home has been jailed for six years and eight months.

Drink and drug fuelled James Wedlock, 28, repeatedly knifed former soldier Gary Wright in a murder bid after the victim discovered he had invaded his property.

Mr Wright, 44, suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and underwent an operation to remove his spleen following the attempted murder.

A judge told Wedlock at the High Court in Edinburgh: “Your victim is a man of significant Army experience, yet he described this as the most frightening experience of his life.”

Lady Scott added: “This was a very serious and wicked attack aggravated by your history of violence fuelled by drug and alcohol abuse. This offence is a significant escalation in your violent conduct.”

The judge told Wedlock he would have faced a ten-year sentence if he was convicted of the offence after a trial. She also ordered that he be kept under supervision for a further three years.

Wedlock, from Edinburgh, earlier admitted attempting to murder Mr Wright on April 2 this year at the victim’s home in Livingston, in West Lothian.

He struggled violently with the dad-of-three and repeatedly struck him with a knife to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Wedlock, who has numerous convictions for violence, was out on bail at the time facing charges for housebreaking, theft and drugs.

He was at a friend’s house in nearby Pumpherston and drank large amounts of vodka and Jack Daniels and consumed between 20 and 30 street valium tablets.

Mr Wright had fallen asleep on a sofa at home, with his partner and three children in their bedrooms, when he was awakened by a noise about 1.30am.

He got up and saw Wedlock walking up the stairs and challenged him. Wedlock ran out the back door chased by the householder and a confrontation followed, which resulted in both men on the ground in the garden.

Advocate depute Leanne McQuillan told the court: “Mr Wright felt what he believed to be three punches to the left side of his back and the accused made off in an unknown direction.”

Mr Wright was found in the kitchen lying on the floor bleeding heavily by one of his children who told him: “You’ve been stabbed.”

A teenage son made a 999 call and used a towel to try to staunch his father’s bleeding.

The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and was operated on to remove his spleen. Due to complications with a wound he underwent further surgery.

Officers later spotted Wedlock, who matched a description given by the victim, in Craigshill and he was arrested.