Knife thug stabbed man 12 times in chance encounter

A THUG who stabbed a man 12 times after a chance street encounter has been jailed for eight years.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Aug 2011, 12:55 BST

Updated 10th Aug 2011, 11:47 BST

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Derek Meikle, 24, remembered little of the incident because he had been drinking heavily and taking tranquilisers.

The court heard that there was "bad blood" between victim Mark Dunbar, 25, and Meikle's friend, Gary McLernon, 25.

As they walked through the Armadale Industrial Estate in West Lothian in the early hours of January 13, the two met Mr Dunbar.

The meeting was simply an "unfortunate coincidence", judge Lady Clark was told.

As Mr McLernan and Mr Dunbar argued, Meikle produced a penknife and lashed out, stabbing Mr Dunbar on his right shoulder, then again and again in the thigh and buttock.

Meikle, of Armadale, handed himself in to police a week later.

Lady Clark made an order keeping Meikle under supervision for two years after the end of his sentence.