A man permanently scarred his neighbour after drunkenly attacking him with a meat cleaver.
Andrew Gillies, 63, stabbed Ian Mason, 59, with the blade at his flat in Scotstoun, Glasgow last August.
Gillies snapped after Mr Mason mentioned his attacker’s estranged family during a drunken chat.
The victim tried to cover for Gillies but he was snared when blood was later found near his flat.
Gillies, now of Sandyhills, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault to Mr Mason’s severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Sheriff Lindsay Wood imposed a nine-month restriction of liberty order, keeping him indoors from 9.30pm and 6am, and put Gillies under supervision for 12 months.
He said: “You need to watch what you do when you have a drink as you wouldn’t have done what you did if you hadn’t drank so much alcohol.
“This must have been a frightening experience and not a good one for the victim who received injuries.
“I’m sure you are beating yourself up since this happened and I’m sure the victim is wondering why you did that.
“Something sparked that but it is of no relevance.”
The court heard the pair shared a bottle of vodka at Gillies’ Dumbarton Road flat on a Saturday night.
The evening turned sour when they discussed their families.
Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “This was a flashpoint for the accused as that’s when Gillies struck the head of Mr Mason with a meat cleaver.”
A 999 call was made and police found Mr Mason bleeding in the common close.
He initially told police he had been “harmed” in his home but officers found no evidence of an attack.
Officers found blood spotting on the landing outside the home of Gillies and they searched the property.
Mr Allan said: “There was blood inside and officers recovered a blood stained meat cleaver on the kitchen worktop.”
Gillies was arrested while Mr Mason was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment.
The victim received six stitches for a wound on his forehead which will leave permanent scarring.
Gillies told police who quizzed him: “I regret it sincerely, I have never done anything like that before in my life.”
Lawyer, Jamie McNair, defending, told the court the retired shot blaster is a first offender.
Mr McNair added that the father of four is estranged from three of his children and an “issue with his family” was raised that night.
Mr McNair said: “He is a man who is appalled about what he did from the outset and regrets his behaviour.”
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