Brute stabbed innocent man in horror Airdrie doorstep attack

General view of the main entrance to Glasgow High Court, aka the High Court of Justiciary.

  Photograph by Colin Mearns
11 November 2024 <i>(Image: Colin Mearns)</i>
General view of the main entrance to Glasgow High Court, aka the High Court of Justiciary. Photograph by Colin Mearns 11 November 2024 (Image: Colin Mearns)
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A violent thug left an innocent man horrifically scarred after stabbing him in the stomach with a broken bottle.

Gary Williamson lashed out at Lewis Reid, who was said to be in "the wrong place, at the wrong time" when he happened to answer the door to the 25-year-old at a flat in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

The distressed 28-year-old went on to call his partner, fearing he was going to die.

Mr Reid fortunately survived the attack on August 22, 2024, after emergency surgery.

Williamson was later held by police while armed with a large blade.

He is now behind bars after pleading guilty to an aggravated assault charge during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.

It emerged Williamson already had a string of convictions for violence and weapons.

The attacker will be sentenced later this month.

Mr Reid was at his friend's flat when they heard someone at the door.

The victim went to see who it was - Williamson was there and Mr Reid shouted back to the other man that the thug wanted to come in.

The friend insisted Williamson was not welcome.

Prosecutor Anne Bennie then said the thug smashed a glass bottle that he had been gripping off metal railings.

He used the weapon to strike Mr Reid on the body.

Miss Bennie stated the horror attack was "unprovoked" and that the victim was "simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time".

Mr Reid soon realised he had been hit in the stomach. He had what appeared to be a serious bowel injury.

The panicked man telephoned his girlfriend and said: "I am going to die. Gary Wiliamson has stabbed me."

He was rushed to hospital in Glasgow after a 999 call.

The court was shown a graphic photo of a large scar down Mr Reid's abdomen as a result of the attack.

Medics concluded his life had been at threat, but for vital treatment.

Williamson was later arrested in the same street in possession of a knife.

Lord Mulholland told Williamson: "This was an unprovoked attack on an innocent man who opened the door. The injuries are horrific.

"You are lucky that you are not sitting in the dock facing a charge of murder."

Sentencing was deferred for reports.4

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