A BRUTE who stabbed a man with an army-style combat knife, leaving him with life-threatening injuries, has been jailed for three years.

Callum Smith, 20, plunged the blade into Kieran Gemmell’s body after a bust-up at a house party.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how Mr Gemmell’s “loud and aggressive” behaviour led to some partygoers leaving.

Smith later confronted him in the street and attacked him with a “black serrated army-style knife.”

Mr Gemmell suffered a large wound, measuring eight to 10 inches, to the left side of his abdomen and was rushed to Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital.

The court was told that, without medical intervention, there was a “high probability” he would have succumbed to his injuries.

At an earlier hearing, first offender Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Gemmell by stabbing him to his severe injury and endangering his life.

The attack took place in Houston Street, Renfrew, on June 24 last year.

When Smith returned to court on Friday to learn his fate, he was told he would have been jailed for four years if it hadn’t been for his early admission of guilt.

Defence solicitor Bob Mitchell reminded the court of his client’s young age, adding that Smith understood he had committed a serious offence.

“Because of the gravity of this, custody is inevitable and he completely understands this,” said Mr Mitchell.

“This happened in June 2020 and he has not been in trouble since. He showed the highest level of remorse.”

After studying background reports on Smith, of Gallowhill, Paisley, Sheriff Mark Thorley said there could be no alternative to a custodial sentence.

He told Smith: “I entirely understand that you are remorseful for what happened here and I am sure you understand the gravity of the situation but you had a weapon and had it before becoming involved in an altercation.”