Man jailed for 15 years after attacking grandmother

By WILMA RILEY
Published on 21/12/2012 14:33

A MAN who attacked a grandmother leaving her with horrific facial injuries has been jailed for a total of 15 years.

Derek Clark attacked 76-year-old Mary Coulter with a machete after he and two accomplices went to her home in search of her son Ronnie.

Judge Lord Stewart today described the attack which took place at 4am as “unbridled savagery” and added: “One of the blows all but sliced her face off.”

Clark was also ordered to be monitored in the community for five years after his release from jail.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 32-year-old Clark wanted revenge on Mrs Coulter’s son amid claims he had terrorised Clark’s family.

Clark admitted the attempted murder of Mrs Coulter and a separate charge of assaulting another man, Grant Murdoch.

Judge Stewart jailed Clark for 10 years for the attack on Mrs Coulter and five years consecutively for the other brutal assault.

Clark was high on cocaine as he left his home in Ashgill, Lanarkshire prior to the attack in the early hours of 22 March.

He was joined by friends Richard Parvin, 29, and 27 year-old Darryl Finnie. All three were wearing balaclavas and Clark was armed with a large knife.

Yesterday Parven was jailed for a total of 10 years after he admitted conspiracy to assault Mr Coulter. And conspiracy to assault Mr Murdoch.

Finnie who admitted conspiring to assault Mr Coulter was jailed for four years.