Two thugs who stabbed a Greenock couple after a dispute over £100 have been locked up for more than nine years.
Jamie Middleton, 19, and Andrew Mulholland, 27, pounced on Finlay McIntyre and Karen Branwhite outside their front door in Greenock, Inverclyde last November 5.
Finlay, 52, suffered nine stab wounds while his 38 year-old partner was also seriously hurt.
The attackers had been on bail for knife offences at the time.
Middleton and Mulholland – who both appeared via video-link from custody - were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
They had earlier pled guilty to assaulting the victims to their severe injury and danger of their lives.
Middleton was locked up for four years with sous chef Mulholland handed five years and three months behind bars.
Both will also be supervised for a further two years on their release.
Lady Stacey said: “Going to someone's house armed and then using a knife to stab two people while there cannot be tolerated.”
Prosecutor Kath Harper told the earlier hearing how Finlay owed Middleton £100.
Miss Harper: “An agreement was reached that the money would be paid on November 6.”
But, Middleton and Mulholland instead turned up at the couple's home around 8.30pm the night before the arranged date.
Finlay was on the landing in his close when Middleton then knifed him in the stomach.
Miss Harper: “He shouted: 'What's this about?'. He was then repeatedly stabbed by Middleton.
“Karen Branwhite moved towards her partner...Mulholland turned on her stabbing her three times.”
The bleeding victims managed to escaped back to their home.
The attackers yelled: “Open the door. You better still get my money.”
The pair then jumped into a taxi and fled the scene.
Finlay and Karen managed to alert police despite collapsing in a pool of blood behind their front door.
Finlay had multiple stab wounds to his head, chest and stomach when officers arrived while his partner was in cardiac arrest.
Both ended up in intensive care with Finlay needing emergency surgery.
Karen meantime had a collapsed lung, a liver injury as well as a fractured rib.
Miss Harper: “Both arrived in a critical condition. They were both found to have potentially life threatening injuries.”
Middleton and Mulholland were held weeks later for the attacks.
Middleton's advocate John McElroy today said: “He has said he is devastated at becoming involved as he had been friendly with Mr McIntyre.”
Tony Lenehan, defending Mulholland, later told the court: “He cannot extract any sense from the events that night.”
