Man's face slashed over £30 debt

The court heard Gray used a Stanley knife to carry out the attack

A court has been told how a man was repeatedly slashed with a Stanley knife over a £30 debt.

Neil Gray, 30, of Jedburgh, admitted carrying out the attack on Ross Gilfillan at his home in the town in April.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard his victim was left with a 15cm (6in) gash from his right ear to his cheek.

He also suffered cuts to his neck, shoulder and a finger in the attack. Sentence was deferred for reports.

The court was told that, when questioned by police, Gray claimed he had been sitting in a hollow tree thinking about his life at the time of the assault.

Further wounds

However, he subsequently admitted carrying out the slashing.

Advocate depute Gillian Wade, prosecuting, described the injuries suffered by Mr Gilfillan during the attack in his home in Blair Avenue, Jedburgh.

She said doctors found a 15cm cut running from Mr Gilfillan's right ear lobe to his cheek.

He had two further wounds on the left side of his neck and a cut to his right shoulder blade.

Gray was remanded in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh

Mr Gilfillan's right index finger was also so badly damaged he might never regain full use of it.

The court was also told about the background to the attack.

Ms Wade said that on 21 April this year there had been an exchange of abusive text messages between the two men about the money, which Mr Gilfillan was supposed to repay when he got his benefits.

However, when he answered a knock on his door two days later, Gray forced his way in, lunging with a silver Stanley knife and yelling: "Do me out of thirty quid!".

After the attack, Gray ran away without saying anything further.

Judge Lord Emslie called for background reports and remanded Gray in custody, pending sentence next month.