A PAIR of knife thugs guilty of “gratuitous violence” on four strangers in less than two hours have been jailed for a total of 14 and a half years.
Declan Fulton, 27, and Brandon Paterson, 22, struck late at night in Glasgow city centre last July.
SpindriftBrandon Paterson was subject to five different bail orders at the time of the crimes[/caption]
GettyThe pair were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow[/caption]
One man was left with a horror facial wound for not having cigarettes to give them.
Paterson was subject to five different bail orders at the time of the crimes.
The pair were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow, having earlier admitted their guilt.
Fulton was jailed for eight years, with Paterson locked up for six and a half years.
The duo will also be supervised on their eventual release.
Fulton already had previous for violence, weapons, disorder, theft and breaching court orders.
Paterson was also a known offender. He flouted five separate bail orders – one for a drugs charge imposed just a week before these crimes.
Explaining these attacks, prosecutor Neil McCulloch told the court: “This case relates to four incidents which took place in Glasgow city centre between 11.20pm on July 8 2024 and 1.30am on July 9.
“This was the assault of several people – who are not known to Fulton and Paterson – at various locations.”
Gregor McHarg was first targeted while out walking his dog in Sauchiehall Street.
One threatened: “I will slit your dog’s throat.”
Mr McHarg initially questioned them before both claimed they were armed with blades.
The thugs stated: “Do you know who we are?”
Fulton initially slashed at Mr McHarg and tried to stab him. The man branded them “cowards”.
Mr McHarg – bleeding from a wound to his elbow – then tailed the pair after they casually walked off.
He approached them in nearby Bath Street where Fulton knifed him in the chest and Paterson hurled a traffic cone at him.
Mr McHarg ended up needing hospital treatment, including for a punctured lung.
You are both violent thugs, and I will protect the public from you
Lord Mulholland
Mr McCulloch said there was a “potential” threat to his life. He is also permanently scarred.
The next victim was then set upon in a “seemingly unprovoked” attack in Buchanan Street about an hour later.
Robert Anderson was punched by Fulton before Paterson joined in.
After an attempt was made to smack him with a glass bottle, Fulton then slashed the man twice with a black-handled blade across the face.
Mr Anderson ended up needing a total of 19 stitches for two wounds.
Around 1.20am, Sergi Avila was walking with a friend in Dundas Street when the assailants asked for cigarettes. They did not have any to give.
Mr McCulloch: “As a result, one of the pair began challenging Sergi Avila to fight before he approached from behind and slashed him to the right side of his face.”
One of the victims called you cowards, which is a good description of what you did… you will pay a heavy price
Lord Mulholland
This caused a nasty, disfiguring wound from this victim’s mouth across his cheek to his ear.
Fulton and Paterson fled the scene. After getting help from a nearby motorist, Mr Alva was taken to hospital for his injuries.
The court heard, like the other men, he is also scarred for life.
The final victim was Just Eat delivery driver Saoud Abdullah, minutes later.
He was struck in Sauchiehall Street, having initially given an associate of the pair some water.
Fulton went on to yank open the man’s Just Eat bag and demanded his phone.
Mr McCulloch: “Fulton slashed him on the left hand, causing it to bleed heavily.”
You pleaded guilty to a series of appalling assaults using weapons on innocent members of the public
Lord Mulholland
Mr Abdullah also ended up in hospital, having gone to a nearby hotel for help.
During a probe to catch the attackers, Fulton was arrested later that day.
It was almost a fortnight before Paterson was traced in Glasgow city centre.
The pair admitted in court to being involved in three of the aggravated assaults, with Fulton alone pleading guilty to attacking Mr Abdullah.
Sentencing, Lord Mulholland ordered one of the thugs to “be respectful” by taking his hands out of his pockets and standing up straight in the dock.
The judge went on: “You pleaded guilty to a series of appalling assaults using weapons on innocent members of the public going about their business.
“One of the victims called you cowards, which is a good description of what you did.
“This was gratuitous violence, and you will pay a heavy price.
“You are both violent thugs, and I will protect the public from you.”
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
