A man who tried to cut off his friend’s ear during a horrific crime spree has been jailed for eight years.

Jay Hutcheson turned on the man at the victim’s flat in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on July 28, 2022.

The 37-year-old man brutally attacked him after he thought the man had taken money from him.

Jurors heard how the victim had earlier allowed Hutcheson to stay at his flat.

Hutcheson was sentenced by Judge David Young KC at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

He had earlier been convicted after a trial in Paisley of attempted murder.

Judge Young told Hutcheson: “He looked upon you as a friend. This was a serious attack – it took place over a long period of time.

“It seemed to have started from your suspicion that he stole a small amount of money.

“He didn’t fight back and you knocked him unconscious.

“Even then, you continued the attack. You hit him on the head and body, burned him with cigarettes, tied his hands with a cable and cut his ear so that it was partially cut off.”

The hearing was told the victim’s injuries included a fractured jaw.

Judge Young added: “You gave an explanation (in a pre-sentence report) that other people broke into the flat and attacked (the victim).

“This was not advanced at trial and does not reflect (the victim’s) evidence.”

Hutcheson, also from Paisley, was said to be at “highest risk” of reoffending.

As a result, he will be supervised for another three years upon his release.

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