Man jailed for hacking off disabled woman’s hand in Scottish home
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Stephen Brisbane, 34, attacked 62-year-old Sandra McGowan in Dundee on 14 February last year and used a knife to cut off her right hand, causing her to lose consciousness.
The court heard Brisbane, who pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing, has around 100 convictions and poses a high risk to the public.
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Hide AdJudge Johanna Johnston imposed a lifelong restriction order on Brisbane when he appeared for sentencing today and ordered him to spend at least four years behind bars before he can apply for parole.
He will only be released when the Parole Board considers it safe to do so.
Sentencing him at the High Court in Glasgow today, judge Johanna Johnston QC said: “You have pleaded guilty to an attack on a vulnerable and defenceless woman in her own home.
“You inflicted horrendous injuries upon her. These injuries put her life in danger and have changed her life. She has suffered dreadfully.
“A doctor’s report stated that you don’t currently have a mental illness and that any mental state at the time was more likely to be as a consequence of being under the influence of drugs.”
She warned he may never be released and said: “You are assessed as posing a high risk level.
“The risk assessment concludes that this risk will remain unless you engage with a management plan.”
The judge said the report mentioned risk factors including his substance misuse and personality disorder and that he had not previously co-operated with support available.
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Hide AdMark Stewart QC, representing Brisbane, said his client felt “deep regret and sorrow” over his actions.
He said: “The risk assessment report concludes that Mr Brisbane presents a high risk to the public.
“It concludes that as a consequence of his historic chronic drug problems he presents as an unpredictable character.
“He clearly stands convicted by his own admission of a very serious offence.”