A thug whose role in a brutal murder bid was uncovered after contacting police about his missing car been jailed for seven and a half years.
Scott Carruthers, 29, acted with two other men in subjecting Antoni Brown, 30, to a horrifying assault in Henderson Street, Paisley on April 28 2021.
The high court heard how the attack on Mr Brown was so bad that he needed to have major surgery to repair serious damage to his skull.
The court also heard about how Carruthers and his accomplices drove to the scene in his white Vauxhall Astra.
Officers investigating the attack found the car unlocked and took it away as they were suspicious that it could be linked to the incident.
Their suspicions were confirmed when Carruthers, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, got in touch to ask for their help in helping him find it. He was arrested and brought to justice.
On Wednesday, judge Lord Fairley jailed Carruthers for seven and a half years for his role in the assault at the end of a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Passing sentence, Lord Fairley said: “The attack on Mr Brown was planned and carried out in concert with two others.
“In carrying out the plan you were fully involved in the attack.
“You acted with wicked recklessness as to whether Mr Brown lived or died. In the circumstances only a significant custodial sentence is appropriate in this case.”
Carruthers pleaded guilty late last year to an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow. Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about his background.
During earlier proceedings, prosecutor Michelle Brannagan told the court about how police apprehended Carruthers.
She said: ”On April 29, Carruthers attended Paisley police station regarding the whereabouts of his Vauxhall Astra.
"At this time, there was no indication of his involvement in the offence.
"He was informed his car had been uplifted due to its involvement in an incident the previous evening.
"Carruthers said he had been there alone in his vehicle around 5.05pm that evening and reverse parked next to a grey car."
She explained that officers assessing CCTV evidence found evidence that Carruthers was found to be one of the thugs who jumped out of the car that night.
It lead to his arrest on May 9, 2021.
Miss Brannagan told how Mr Brown had not long left his home with a friend when he was attacked.
The thugs had lay in wait in a nearby tenement close.
Mr Brown's friend - who had been walking slightly ahead - turned to find three males wearing balaclavas attacking the man.
Miss Brannagan said Carruthers initially punched Mr Brown, dragged him to the ground and delivered two "full force" kicks to the head.
One of the other thugs then pulled a long bladed weapon from the waistband of his trousers and repeatedly hit the victim.
While stricken, Mr Brown was also hit by the other attacker with what was described as a "one-foot" knife or machete.
Carruthers tried to prevent further blows, but the victim was again hit before the thugs ran off.
A badly injured Mr Brown was helped back to his feet and initially to his home.
He was then rushed to hospital suffering from multiple head injuries, including a large skull fracture and puncture wounds.
Mr Brown needed an urgent operation, with his skull initially held in place with pins.
He was in hospital for almost a fortnight, but has since made a good recovery.
Miss Brannagan said that, had he not gotten treatment, the injuries may have proved fatal.
On Wednesday, defence advocate Patricia Baillie told the court that Carruthers had expressed remorse for the attack.
She added: “He very much regrets it. He does acknowledge the impact that these injuries had on the complainer. He understands that it was only good fortune that the complainer has recovered from the injuries that were inflected on him in the incident.”
Lord Fairley also told the father of three, who works as an industrial cleaner, that his sentence would be treated as if it began in November 2022 - the date of which he was first remanded in custody.
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