STV NewsA man assaulted a cyclist with a machete at a butcher shop in front of shocked employees.
James Muirhead, 26, repeatedly struck the man at the shop in Glasgow’s Dennistoun on the morning of September 4, 2023.
Muirhead inflicted wounds to his head and body causing him to suffer a skull fracture.
He pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to the assault to the victim’s severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.
The court heard that Muirhead was in a car heading home from a night out around 9.45am on the Monday morning.
The victim was cycling along Duke Street when Muirhead jumped out of his vehicle and shouted at him.
The cyclist ran off but was chased by Muirhead who caught up with him.
Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said: “Muirhead attacked him and he fell to the floor of a butchers shop.
“He continued to strike him with the machete.
“Members of the public pulled Muirhead off the man.”
Muirhead then returned to the vehicle and fled the scene.
Police attended the scene where they bandaged the victim’s bleeding hand and head.
The victim stated that he did not know who attacked him but that it was “three men who did and used a machete to strike me”.
He was taken to hospital where he was treated for wounds to his left hand, middle finger, forearm and a fractured skull.
CCTV was used to establish that it was Muirhead who was responsible.
It was revealed that Muirhead had a previous high court conviction for assault and robbery with a knife to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Muirhead, of the city’s Cranhill, was given a six-and-a-half year extended sentence – five of which is to be in custody.
Euan Dow, defending, told the court that the victim is the friend of dad-of-one Muirhead’s former partner.
The advocate said: “It is his position that while he was in prison, he carried out various incidents against members of his family.
“This includes smashing his mother’s home windows and setting fire to a car outside his home.
“His position is his judgement was impaired due to his intoxication and he acted in the way described.
“On seeing the CCTV footage for himself, he described his shock and embarrassment.”
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lady Drummond.
She said: “It is a serious offence – I am under no doubt prison is the appropriate sentence and it will be a lengthy period.”
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