Man jailed for three years for Bannockburn stabbing

Oct 16 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Wednesday

A THUG who stabbed a Bannockburn man at his home has been jailed for three years.

David Strathern knifed Alexander Kellas (44) during an incident in Park Crescent on July 13 last year.

Strathern, who was diagnosed by a doctor as borderline autistic, lashed out with a knife because of his difficulty in dealing with social situations, said his defence advocate Tony Graham.

Strathern (23) had admitted stabbing Mr Kellas to the danger of his life. The three stab wounds – two of them to his chest – had left him unable to work as a labourer or to continue his pastimes of weightlifting and judo, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

The evening of the incident was said to have started with a night out in Glasgow for Strathern and girlfriend Louise Carlow.

There was then said to have been an argument when a man spoke to her in a pub.

Strathern’s parents drove the couple back to Rutherglen, near Glasgow, where he lived but Ms Carlow said that she wanted to return home to Bannockburn.

Lord Brailsford was told that there was later a further domestic argument and Ms Carlow ran next door to Mr Kellas’ house. She was upset and crying but did not want to call police.

Ms Carlow asked Mr Kellas’ son to ask her boyfriend for a cigarette and Strathern opened the door brandishing a knife.

Back in Mr Kellas’ house, Ms Carlow made a run for it when she saw boyfriend Strathern. He approached Mr Kellas and, without a word, stabbed him.

Doctors found Mr Kellas was bleeding badly and his breathing was affected. The following day he underwent an operation because of complications and spent seven days in hospital.

Pleading for leniency, Mr Graham said that because of his borderline autism Strathern would find prison difficult. He was “utterly dependent” on his mother in his day-to-day life, the defence agent added.

Lord Brailsford handed down the jail term but added that the sentence was lighter than it may have been in other, similar cases.