A man has been jailed for six years for attempting to murder a stranger who tried to calm him down after he was ejected from a pub.

Oliver Winters, 31, repeatedly slashed 37-year-old Stuart Murray with a Stanley knife during the brutal assault.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, judge Lord Colbeck told Winters: “You intended to cause harm to a stranger who was simply trying to diffuse a situation caused by you.

“The far-reaching effects of your unprovoked assault on Mr Murray are described in his victim impact statement, which makes harrowing reading.”

Winters, whose previous convictions include public disorder and weapons offences, admitted attempting to murder Mr Murray by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a knife.

The attack happened in Johnstone’s High Street, Renfrewshire, on 16 December 2022.

The court heard that both men were in a busy bar in the town but were not in the company of each other.

Winters was escorted from the premises following a disturbance in the pub and was heard shouting, swearing and issuing challenges to fight.

Prosecutor James Irvine said: “Stuart Murray and another man left the bar to de-escalate the situation. Mr Murray approached Winters and stated ‘what are you playing at?'”

The pair ended up in a struggle before Winters pulled out the Stanley knife. Mr Murray attempted to jump a fence to escape but fell.

While he was on the ground, Winters repeatedly struck him with the blade as the victim used his hands to try to protect his face.

Mr Murray suffered wounds to his face, neck, wrist and chest. One wound to his neck was close to major blood vessels, including a jugular vein and carotid artery. He later required surgery.

Winters, who was under the influence of drink and drugs, was later arrested at his mother’s home in Paisley.

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Defence solicitor advocate Robert Mitchell said Winters’ offending appeared to be linked to the abuse of drugs and alcohol, but he has since undergone a detox. He has also taken part in an offence reduction programme.

The solicitor said it was accepted that a significant custodial sentence was “inevitable”.

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