Scott Copeland stabbed stranger in neck in Edinburgh then told victim he 'got lucky'

A man who stabbed a stranger in the neck told his victim that he “got lucky” and should phone the police, a court has heard.

Scott Copeland, 26, struck the man with a blade which was eight and half inches long on Great Junction Street, Edinburgh on October 20 2023.

The high court in the city heard how Copeland had approached his victim from behind before the attack.

Judge Fiona Tait heard how the man felt a pain at the back of his neck at which point he turned around to see the accused holding a knife.

Prosecution lawyer Alan Parfery said: “[The victim] had felt pain at the back of his neck at which point he turned around to see the accused holding a knife.

“The accused turned to him and said ‘You got lucky. Phone the police.’.”

On Thursday, Copeland pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the man by stabbing him to his “injury” and to the “danger” of his life.

He also admitted charges of knife possession, assault and robbery and assault.

Mr Parfery told the court of how earlier in the same day, Copeland went into a branch of Tesco in Great Junction Street and threatened a staff member. He also assaulted a security guard and threatened to stab him before stealing £100 worth of condoms and ibuprofen.

Hours later he approached another man in the same Leith Street armed with a knife and attempted to stab him.

However, the man managed to kick the blade out of Copeland’s hand before fleeing the scene. The complainer phoned the police.

The court heard that Copeland then attacked the stabbing victim a short time later. The court heard that following the assault, Copeland walked to a nearby pub covered in blood. A staff member asked him if he had been stabbed.

The court heard that Copeland said that he had stabbed somebody which prompted the worker to phone police.

Mr Parfery said that police arrived soon afterwards and arrested Copeland.

He told officers: “I should have killed him.”

The court heard that paramedics administered on scene assistance to the stabbing victim, who has since recovered from his injury.

Judge Tait deferred sentence on Copeland to obtain a report into his background and a risk assessment.

She told him: “You will be remanded in custody.”

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson told the court that he would reserve his mitigation until that date.

Copeland will be sentenced at the High Court in Livingston on July 9 2024.