A violent offender who repeatedly stabbed a man in a brutal murder bid was jailed for nine and a half years today.
Theo Maulba (27) inflicted multiple wounds on his victim during the assault at a house in Kilmarnock.
A judge told Maulba at the High Court in Edinburgh: "This was a brutal and excessively violent, sustained attack with a bladed weapon."
Lord Armstrong pointed out that two of the stab wounds to the back of Finlay Parker caused damage to a lung and kidney of the victim.
The judge said: "You have been convicted after trial of the attempted murder of Finlay Parker by repeatedly striking him on the body with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of life."
Lord Armstrong noted that Maulba's criminal record contained 36 previous convictions, including offences of assault, battery, threatening behaviour and drugs.
The judge said he had read a victim impact statement which indicated the detrimental impact of Maulba's actions on Mr Parker.
Maulba was assessed as posing a maximum risk of further offending and the judge told him: "There is no appropriate alternative to a custodial sentence."
Lord Armstrong told Maulba, who was aged 25 when he carried out the attempted murder: "I note your status as a young person at the relevant time."
The judge also said that he took into account that Maulba had suffered neglect as a child and was diagnosed with ADHD.
Maulba had earlier denied attempting to murder by Mr Parker in the attack on September 18 in 2021 at Old Kirk Place, Kilmarnock, but was found guilty of the offence which was committed after he was freed on bail the previous month at the Ayrshire town's sheriff court.
Defence counsel Edith Forrest saidMaulba experienced "a very bleak upbringing and childhood". She added: "It is not an excuse, it is not offered as an excuse, but it perhaps contextualises how a man of 27 finds himself on a very serious charge of attempted murder with a background of violent offending."
She said Maulba was largely brought up by a grandmother after his mother abandoned him because of her drug abuse.
She said there was now a recognition by Maulba of the harm he had caused to the young victim. She said: "He has expressed regret at becoming involved in the altercation at all and he recognises there is no excuse for him responding in the violent manner he did."
The defence counsel Maulba has shown insight into where his weaknesses lay in drink, drugs and gang culture. She said that much of his offending occurred when he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
She told the court: "He recognises it is incumbent on him to address his offending and addictions."
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