Thug jailed for knife attack on girlfriend's ex-partner

A THUG who walked away from a murder charge five years ago was behind bars today - for stabbing his girlfriend's former lover.

A judge heard how Liam McGhee jumped from a car and plunged a knife into the chest of Joseph Duncan over an alleged debt owed to his partner, Ashleigh Thorburn.

He was jailed yesterday for five years and ten months at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court heard that scaffolder McGhee, 23, has a string of convictions for dishonesty and breaking into cars. In May 2006 he sat in the same dock with five others, all facing a murder charge after a street brawl led to the death of Dave Douglas. McGhee, from Leith, admitted assault and was eventually ordered to carry out 240 hours' unpaid community work.

Yesterday McGhee halted a planned trial by pleading guilty to assaulting Mr Duncan, 25, to the danger of his life in Restalrig Road, Edinburgh, last July 18.

The charge had been reduced from one of attempted murder.