Man slashed musician as he performed in Stevenston pub after knifing friend at bar

A man slashed a musician performing on stage while wearing his “Rolex” electronic tag.

Craig Byers carried out the unprovoked attack on his victim at the Station Bar in Stevenston, Ayrshire, days before Christmas last year.

The 34-year-old also knifed the man’s friend.

The victims needed a total of almost 50 stitches for their injuries. Both have been left badly scarred for life.

Byers struck having repeatedly stabbed another man after following him to his home.

The thug, who already had a string of convictions for violence, has now been jailed for ten years after he admitted his guilt.

The victim was performing at the pub on December 20, with his friend watching him.

During a break in the music, the men were outside the pub and started chatting with Byers.

Prosecutor Lorraine Glancy KC told the High Court in Glasgow: “Byers then left making reference to wearing what he described as ‘a Rolex on his ankle’, meaning his electronic tag.”

The musician returned to the stage while his friend stood at the bar.

Byers came back to the pub having changed his clothes. He had a dark scarf covering his face, meaning only his eyes were showing.

Ms Glancy then explained: “Byers walked towards [the victim] and used the item he was holding to strike his face.

“Byers immediately turned and walked directly towards [the second victim], who was on the stage.

“He struck him on the face with the same item and then walked out the door without saying anything.”

The pub owner ran out after the assailant, heading towards his home.

It was there police found him, although Byers tried to block them with a door. He eventually had to be restrained on a sofa.

The court heard one victim needed 27 stitches for a nasty wound on his face while the other got 12 stitches for an ear injury with a further ten for his cheek.

Ms Glancy said: “Both men will be left with a significant scar to their face.”

Byers had been on bail, having also attacked another man at his home in the town last August 17.

That victim had earlier been at the Station Bar where there had been some “limited conversation” between him and Byers before heading home around 1am.

Prosecutor Ms Glancy said: “CCTV footage showed Byers then arriving at the flat shortly after and entering through the living room window.”

Byers had his hood up and his face covered.

Ms Glancy said: “He was in possession of a knife, ran at [the victim] pushing him into a bathroom.

“It was there Byers attacked him, stabbing him repeatedly on the head and body.”

The blood-soaked victim was hurt trying to defend himself before managing to escape to a neighbour for help.

The victim needed a total of 22 stitches for his injuries as well as an operation for a fractured jaw. One blow had nicked an artery in his groin.

Byers was identified from CCTV footage in the area. He had also left a mobile phone at the scene.

Byers pleaded guilty to assaulting all victims to their severe injury and permanent disfigurement with the first victim also to the danger of his life.

As well as the jail term, Judge Douglas Brown also ordered Byers to be supervised for a further three years on his release.

He said the pub attacks were “unprovoked and clearly premeditated”. The stabbing of the first victim was described as “sustained”.