A man has forgiven his son who stabbed him with a steak knife as they waited for dinner to be served.
Jordan Dalziel fled to a neighbour’s home after the attack, leaving his shocked mum to pull the blade out of her husband’s back.
Dalziel, 30, admitted assaulting dad John to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the attack happened at his parents’ home in Greenhead Road, Wishaw, on August 14 last year.
Dalziel appeared from custody, having been on remand in prison since his arrest shortly after the incident.
But Sheriff John Speir agreed to release him on a two-year supervision order. He must also carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work.
The sheriff told Dalziel: “This is a serious matter involving a wound that could have been significantly worse than it turned out to be.
“I take on board that your father seems to bear no ill will which is to his credit and your benefit.”
Alice Carey, prosecuting, said the victim, who was aged 60, suffered a cut to his back, a broken rib and a partial collapsed lung.
She told the court Dalziel junior had stayed overnight at the house and “nothing out of the ordinary had occurred”.
The prosecutor added: “Around 5pm, with dinner prepared, the accused and his parents were in the kitchen.
“The accused lifted a steak knife from the table, stood directly behind his father and stabbed him to the upper left side of his back.
“John Dalziel thought he’d been punched and asked his son why he’d done it.
“The accused’s mother, Caroline, then noted the knife was lodged in her husband’s back. She pulled it out while the accused ran towards a neighbour’s house.
“He told a couple there that he had just stabbed his father.”
The police were called and when officers arrived they were told Dalziel junior had swallowed a number of painkillers
He was taken to hospital for assessment before being transferred to Motherwell Police Station.
Ms Carey stated: “A surgeon said that while the victim’s injuries were severe they were not life-threatening.
“He did not require surgery but was kept in hospital overnight before being sent home.”
Defence agent Gerry McGuire said Dalziel had mental health issues and at the time of the attack hadn’t taken his medication.
He said his client’s condition has improved since.
* Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!