Knife thug jailed for 17 years

James Paxton, 23, carried out a frenzied machete assault under orders from James Demarco, a killer serving time in Saughton Prison.

Murderer Demarco, 18, was also jailed for a further 45 months after listening in to the attack and the victim's screams over the phone.

He told Paxton to "stab f*** out" of the intended target because he had gone out with an ex-girlfriend – but he got the wrong man.

The victim, George Stewart, shared a nickname – G – with Demarco's intended target for the assault, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Paxton, who also carried out two other knife attacks within a month, was jailed for a total of 17 years and one month. He was also ordered to be kept under supervision for a further four years.

Lord Brailsford told Paxton said: "The circumstances of these offences are both wicked and depraved."

The judge told Demarco, who is currently serving at least 15 years for murder, that his latest sentence should start at the end of his minimum term.

Lord Brailsford told him: "You instigated Paxton to carry out the assault. It is clearly reprehensible conduct."

Demarco called the judge "a f*****g prick" as he was being led from the dock to start his latest jail term.

The court earlier heard that Paxton told Demarco during the recorded phone call that he would be joining him in jail and boasted he would come in "walking like John Wayne".

During the call Demarco was heard laughing and Paxton said: "I just sliced and diced with ma machete. I couldnae find ma sword or it was going right through him."

Demarco, who is currently in Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, earlier admitted instigating Paxton to commit the assault on September 23 last year.

Paxton, of Captains Drive, Gracemount, admitted assaulting Mr Stewart to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

Paxton also earlier admitted two further attacks when he appeared in the dock beside the smirking Demarco.

On September 16, he attacked a man on Observatory Drive, stabbing him repeatedly and spraying ammonia in his face. The victim suffered 22 wounds and also spent 80 days in a burns unit.

And on September 1 he repeatedly stabbed another man in Captains Drive, Gracemount.

A third accused, Kevin Gartland, 17, also of Captains Drive, admitted his part in the Observatory Drive attack, in which a second victim was also badly injured, and was detained for five years.