A knifeman who tried to murder his lawyer has been jailed for 11 years.

Esayas Neguse stabbed Muhammad Shoaib in the chest during the attack at MS Solicitors’ office in Glasgow in September 2022.

The 71-year-old victim also suffered a wound to his right hand during the violent assault and feared he was about to die, prosecutors said.

Neguse was bravely tackled to the ground by two of Mr Shoaib’s colleagues who had heard his cries for help.

They attempted to restrain Neguse and wrestle him out of the office and into the reception area. The 37-year-old attacker headbutted one and bit the hand of the other, a court heard.

As Mr Shoaib dialled 999, police officers passing in a van spotted the struggle and apprehended the accused.

Mr Shoaib, who left “considerable blood on his office floor”, was treated at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Neguse was taken to Govan police station and continued to lash out by shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner towards two custody support officers. He then assaulted one by spitting on her face.

Neguse denied attempted murder and several other charges during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

But after Mr Shoaib relived his life-threatening ordeal in front of a jury, Neguse changed his pleas to guilty during the trial.

As well as the attempted murder charge, he admitted assaulting Mr Shoaib’s colleagues, having a knife in a public place, behaving in a threatening manner, and spitting on a police officer.

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Judge Lord Colbeck said Neguse had 11 previous convictions between August 2018 and December 2021, with these latest offences committed after he had been released early from a 12-month sentence.

The court heard how Neguse had been seen by Mr Shoaib despite turning up to the office without an appointment, and appeared “unhappy and agitated” before attacking the lawyer with the kitchen knife.

Lord Colbeck took into account Neguse’s “significant history of mental illness” and said he appeared to “understand the gravity of the offences”.

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Neguse was handed a 16-year extended sentence, with 11 years in jail and five years on licence.

He was also served with an indefinite non-harassment order.

Moira Orr, from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was a shocking attack on a lawyer who was going about his everyday business working for the benefit of his clients.

“Had it not been for the brave intervention of his colleagues, this attack could have had tragic repercussions. And it is only right that we acknowledge their heroic actions.

“Esayas Neguse has been convicted and sentenced for a terrible crime and will now spend a lengthy time in prison as a result of his criminal behaviour.”

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