A trio of thugs who travelled to Dundee from London and stabbed a man in the street have been jailed for a combined total of nearly 14 years.
Liam Hargreaves, 22, and balaclava-wearing Ian Eghan, 27 and Dee Burke, 27, were involved in the Cleghorn Street attack on Jahmyles Hyndes, which left him with life threatening injuries.
The 20-year-old was dragged from a car and stabbed five times in his body with a large knife.
He suffered punctures to both lungs, two fractured ribs and needed surgery and chest drains inserted to deal with internal bleeding.
All of Mr Hyndes’ attackers pled guilty at an earlier court hearing to assaulting him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.
They appeared in the dock at the High Court in Paisley for sentencing.
Lord Mulholland told them: “It was a cowardly act, as the victim was unarmed and half dragged by you out of a car, having been brutally assaulted.
“The wounds inflicted by you placed his life in danger and you and your victim are fortunate you are not facing a murder charge.
“The skill of the surgeon has resulted in the victim making a good recovery.”
Sentences
The judge jailed Burke, who used the knife to repeatedly stab his victim, for five years and three months.
Hargreaves was sentenced to four years and two months in prison, while Eghan received a jail term of four and a half years.
As the trio were led away from the dock, Hargreaves could be seen winking to one of his co-accused, Burke.
It came just minutes after the judge reprimanded Eghan for not paying attention as he read out their sentencing.
Brutal attack
Prosecutor Alex Sutherland previously told the High Court in Glasgow how the attack happened on January 4 last year in Dundee’s Cleghorn Street, amid claims a woman had earlier been hurt.
The trio had arrived in Dundee from their home city of London.
Hargreaves was initially at the scene of the crime before Eghan and Burke – both wearing balaclavas – turned up.
Burke was said to be brandishing a kitchen knife.
Mr Hyndes tried to get into a car for safety but he was dragged out.
After he was attacked, the trio fled.
The bleeding victim was helped to a nearby flat by witnesses as a 999 call was made.
Mr Sutherland said paramedics arrived and Mr Hyndes was found lying on the kitchen floor with visible wounds and blood on his clothes.
The advocate depute said the injuries could have been fatal had they not been treated in time.
Previous convictions
The court heard the plea was accepted on the basis Burke was armed but the other two were involved in the assault.
Lord Mulholland previously said he wanted to know more about why the trio were in Dundee, although it is said they were visiting friends.
Chief Inspector Ross Fitzgerald said at the time the incident was believed to be a “targeted attack”.
Defence lawyers representing both Eghan and Hargeaves, Kelly Duling and Brian Bell respectively, said their clients acknowledged the impact of their offending on their victim.
The court heard Hargreaves had previous convictions for a robbery when he was aged just 13, as well as battery and carrying weapons in public places.
Defence lawyer Euan Gosney said Burke, who is a father, plans to return to London upon his release and “play a more productive role in society” and the life of his child.
Court papers listed all three attackers as prisoners of HMP Perth.
