An attacker who left his murder bid victim with a fractured skull has been jailed for six years.
Graeme Robertson, 30, targeted Robert Cochran just hours after meeting him in the street and going to his home.
When police arrived, blood-soaked Robertson initially refused to let them in and then told them “I’m fine”, while Mr Cochran was lying inside seriously injured.
At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Mulholland told Robertson, who appeared via a video link from prison: “You pled guilty to attempted murder and left your victim with life-threatening injuries. You are no stranger to violence.”
The court heard that Robertson, a dad-of-one, has six previous convictions for violence.
He was ordered to be monitored in the community for two years after his release from jail.
Robertson stabbed and battered Mr Cochran at his flat in Cameron Crescent, Hamilton, Lanarkshire on April 20 this year.
Mr Cochran suffered bleeding on the brain and skull fractures.
Roberston initially refused to let police in and then told them: “This is just from an incident that happened earlier. I am fine.”
Mr Cochran was lying in the kitchen injured at the time with a knife nearby.
Robertson said: “He took a swing at me, so I took a swing at him.”
Robertson pled guilty to attempted murder.
Jennifer Bain, defending, said: “He went out for a walk that day and met Robert Cochran, who was previously unknown to him.
“He agreed to return to his flat with him. He knows there is no excuse for his behaviour and has expressed horror at the consequences of his actions.”
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