Violent thug who took street valium left man with fractured skull and bleeding to the brain

Thirty-year-old Graeme Robertson attacked Robert Cochran just hours after meeting him in the street and going to his home.

When police arrived blood-soaked Robertson initially refused to let them in and then told them: “I’m fine.”

Mr Cochran was lying inside seriously injured.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Mulholland told Robertson, who appeared via a video link from prison: “You pled guilty to attempted murder and left your victim with life-threatening injuries. You are no stranger to violence.”

The court heard that Robertson, a dad-of-one has six previous convictions for violence.

He was ordered to be monitored in the community for two years after his release from jail.

Robertson stabbed Mr Cochran and inflicted blunt force injuries on him at his flat in Cameron Crescent, Hamilton on April 20 this year.

Mr Cochran suffered bleeding on the brain and skull fractures.

Roberston initially refused to let police in and then told them: “Aye, this is just from an incident that happened earlier. I am fine.”

Mr Cochran was lying in the kitchen with a knife nearby.

Robertson said: “He took a swing at me, so I took a swing at him.”

After later being charged with the attack, he replied: “It’s s***e.”

Robertson pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Jennifer Bain, defending, said: “He went out for a walk that day and met Robert Cochran, who was previously unknown to him.

“He agreed to return to his flat with him. He knows there is no excuse for his behaviour and has expressed horror at the consequences of his actions.”

Ms Bain said that prior to lockdown Robertson had turned his life around and was attending and volunteering at a local church.

She added: “All the groups he was involved with had to close down because of lockdown. He had no routine and turned to alcohol and drugs.

“The day of the offence he had taken street Valium and alcohol and has no recollection of what happened.”