Glasgow knife attacker David Dollin tried to stab man to death after hot tea thrown over elderly dad with cancer

A knife attacker who tried to murder a man after the victim threw a mug of hot tea at his frail father was jailed for four years on Monday.

David Dollin launched an armed assault on James Dunn in broad daylight in a busy Glasgow street that was captured on CCTV.

During the attack Dollin, 35, punched and kicked his victim and repeatedly struck him on the head, neck and body with the knife.

Mr Dunn required surgery after he was wounded in the murder bid, during which he sustained a six-inch injury to his neck as he was hit five or six times with the weapon.

A judge told Dollin at the High Court in Edinburgh: “It seems the circumstances are that Mr Dunn, your victim, had thrown a mug of tea at your father earlier in the day.”

Lord Summers said that footage of the attack carried out by Dollin showed that members of the public were nearby when it occurred.

He told Dollin that he would have faced a six-year sentence for the crime, but that would be reduced following his guilty plea.

Dollin, a prisoner, earlier admitted assaulting Mr Dunn to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life and attempting to murder him on June 4, 2021 at Saracen Street, in Possilpark.

Defence counsel Patricia Baillie said that Dollin’s father had challenged Mr Dunn over his behaviour in an earlier confrontation and a cup of hot tea was then thrown at him.

She said Dollin’s father had recently come out of hospital, where he was receiving treatment for cancer and was “frail and unwell” according to his son.

The defence counsel said Dollin’s actions were “reactive” but he had expressed remorse and regret for what he did.