Man who stabbed love rival is jailed

May 14 2008 By Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post

A SPURNED lover stabbed his love rival after he turned up at his house to sort out their differences.

Lee Johnstone ran at his victim and knifed him three times as he walked out of the garden after a heated argument at the front door.

Ayr Sheriff Court heard this week that the brutal attack was all over Johnstone’s ex girlfriend.

Depute fiscal Chris Donnelly told the court that the victim, Robert McCurdie, was the new boyfriend of Johnstone’s ex partner.

Mr Donnelly continued: “They had been in a relationship for five years but that had ended six months prior to this. He had some difficulty accepting the situation.”

The attack happened at 11.30pm on February 23 when McCurdie went to his new girlfriend’s house after a night boozing with friends.

He was upset about the bad feeling between himself and Johnstone. So he decided to find out where Johnstone would be and went to the house.

Mr Donnelly continued: “Harsh words were exchanged across the threshold although neither of them crossed it at that point. The lady of the house asked him to go. He walked onto the street. Lee Johnstone crossed the threshold shouting “you’re getting it”.”

A fight between the pair ensued and McCurdie ended up with three puncture wounds in his leg, chest and back.

He was taken to Ayr Hospital where he was treated for his wounds.

Cops later turned up at Johnstone’s house and found him in the bathroom trying to flush the knife down the toilet.

He originally faced charges of attempted murder but pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury at the house in Crosshill Road in Maybole.

Defence lawyer Steven Maxwell told Sheriff John Montgomery that his client had a “formidable” record although he had no convictions in the last year.

Jailing Johnstone for 32 months, Sheriff Montgomery said: “Assaults with knives or other weapons are dealt with seriously by the court. Standing the nature of your crime and your record, there is no disposal appropriate other than a custodial disposal.”