iStockA man slashed the throat of a neighbour who accused him of being a drug dealer.
Jamie Denholm attacked the man on the doorstep of his home in Jedburgh in the Borders last June 9.
Prosecutor James Irvine told the High Court in Glasgow how the victim and his wife had been returning from a local bar when they spotted the 27-year-old staring at them.
The couple were aware he was a neighbour but did not know his name.
The victim said to him: “I know what you did. You are a dealer.”
Denholm did not react and instead returned to the home he shared with his mother.
He then told her what had been said and appeared “upset”.
The court heard Denholm later left and went to the couple’s door.
The victim answered and it became apparent Denholm was armed with a Stanley Knife-style blade.
Prosecutor Mr Irvine said the attacker raised his right hand and struck the victim “in the neck in an inward motion at his windpipe”.
Another neighbour spotted what happened and managed to restrain Denholm, who tried to lash out at the victim again.
The court heard the blood-soaked victim alerted his wife.
The man suffered a six-inch wound, which needed a total of 26 staples to repair. He was left scarred for life, the court heard.
“Fortunately, no major arteries were affected,” Mr Irvine said.
Denholm was later held by police and admitted to causing the injuries but denied trying to kill the man.
He claimed another person – who he did not name – had ditched the weapon used.
Denholm appeared in the dock where he pled guilty to an attempted murder charge.
It emerged he had previous convictions involving a knife and a sword.
Lady Drummond remanded Denholm in custody and adjourned sentencing until April 9 in Edinburgh.
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