James Thomson found guilty of assaulting woman after slashing her face with knife outside Alva pub

A man scarred a woman for life in a brutal unprovoked attack outside a pub.

James Thomson, 24, struck the woman in Alva, Clackmannanshire, on April 9 2023.

Thomson had earlier chatted to the woman at Cairns Bar which caused her to feel anxious and she left with friends.

They were later tailed by Thomson who confronted them with a knife and pit bull terrier on a lead.

Thomson slashed the woman across the face along her cheek which needed 20 stitches to close the wound.

The victim will suffer altered and unpleasant sensation as well as numbness in the area of the wound.

Thomson pled guilty on Friday at the High Court in Glasgow to assaulting the woman to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

He also admitted having a knife without a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

The former Diageo cask handler has previous convictions which includes a 46-month jail term for a serious assault to danger of life from October 2020.

The court heard that the woman was socialising at the bar with friends on the night of the incident.

While waiting at the bar, she spoke to stranger Thomson who introduced himself as ‘James T from Tillicoultry’.

Prosecutor Stephen McCloy said: “As they continued to chat, [the victim] became increasingly uncomfortable given the terms of the conversation with Thomson.”

The woman and her group decided to leave as they had become uncomfortable with Thomson and his friend.

As they left, the group heard and saw Thomson and his friend.

The pair approached the group and an “incident” occurred between them which did not involve her.

The two men left and stated that “we will be back” and returned a few minutes later.

Thomson was armed with a knife and had a pit bull terrier on a lead.

Mr McCloy said: “Thomson walked straight to [the victim] and slashed her across the face.

“She described blood pouring out.

“She immediately grabbed her face, ran away and hid as did other member of her group.”

Police were called and ambulance staff attended the scene, who took the woman to hospital.

She was found to have suffered a wound from the right side of her lip extending along her right cheek.

The wound cut through fat and muscle at the deepest part of the wound which was cleaned and treated with 20 stitches.

Mr McCloy added: “The injury will cause scarring and an altered, unpleasant sensation or numbness in the area of he wound.”