Scissors stabbing yob jailed for four-and-a-half years

Sean McLeod, 24, repeatedly stabbed his victim with the weapon after an argument in Albert Street on January 23 last year.

McLeod was originally charged with attempting to murder Lawrence Mutasa, 32, but a jury earlier found him guilty of a reduced charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

He was also convicted of possessing an offensive weapon – the scissors – at a close in the street.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Kinclaven accepted that the danger to life had been potential rather than actual.

He added: “There is no alternative to a custodial sentence and it requires to be a significant custodial sentence in the circumstances of this particular case.”

Lord Kinclaven said he took into account the circumstances of the offence including “quite aggressive” behaviour by the victim towards others.

During the attack, McLeod, of Greendykes House, Edinburgh, repeatedly punched and kicked the victim on the head and body.

McLeod had accepted that he punched and kicked Mr Mutasa but denied that he was responsible for the 
stabbing.

Defence solicitor advocate Paul Haran said McLeod had “a very difficult past” but was not an individual who showed signs of being on the start of a criminal career.