A Larkhall man who once avoided prison after killing a neighbour has been jailed for 32 months for a knife attack.
Graeme Barbour slashed his victim on the face during a drunken row, leaving him scarred for life.
The 50-year-old walked free from the High Court in 1996 after he admitted the culpable homicide of James Devine, 54.
The men had been taking part in a playful boxing bout and Mr Devine was hit by a punch that caused his head to hit a wall.
He died two days later from a brain haemorrhage.
The judge at that time, Lord Kirkwood, took the highly unusual decision to give former amateur boxer Barbour a good behaviour order.
But Barbour, of Glen Avenue, Larkhall, found himself in the dock at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
There he admitted assaulting his pal to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement at a neighbour's house on February 11 this year.
Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said the pair and another man had been drinking throughout the day.
She stated: "An argument broke out and the accused approached the complainer, who was sitting on a couch.
"He slashed him across the face with a knife that is understood to have come from the kitchen.
"The complainer then took possession of a machete and struck the accused with it, inflicting a minor injury.
"He was taken to hospital with a large cut to the side of his face and over the bridge of his nose. He received 11 stitches."
The court heard that, as well as the culpable homicide conviction, Barbour has another knife assault on his record.
That was 20 years ago and defence agent Sandy Morrison said his client stayed out of trouble for a long period after that.
Mr Morrison added: "He says he was on the receiving end of an assault committed by the complainer a year ago.
"On the day of the latest incident a huge amount of alcohol had been taken and there was an argument, with reference made to the previous assault.
"My client has made a pre-emptive strike on this occasion."
Passing sentence, Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told Barbour: "Your previous convictions are serious and relevant.
"They show a predisposition to violence that has continued for 30 years and that is of grave concern.
"You have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and saved inconvenience to witnesses and the court.
"I take account of that and reduce the sentence from four years to 32 months."
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