A CONVICTED thug is facing a lengthy jail-term for a brutal attack on a man at a flat in Greenock.

Stephen Bonnar stabbed Stephen McKee on January 9 2023.

During a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, the 37-year-old claimed he was acting in self-defence.

But, he was today convicted of assaulting Mr McKee to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

However, jurors deleted the accusation that Bonnar had attempted to murder the man.

Bonnar was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.

The trial was told how a neighbour had heard raised voices coming from the flat that night.

There was no dispute that Mr McKee was left "badly injured" after being stabbed.

But, asked who the culprit was, Mr McKee stated: "I am not sure. I do not know who it was by. I know that it happened at 4am.

"I think it was with a kitchen knife."

He named another man as possibly being responsible.

Mr McKee recalled being hit on the head and also stabbed. The victim did not know how he got to hospital. 

After the verdict, it emerged Bonnar already had 24 previous convictions.

These included for violence, possession of a knife and robbery.

In 2019 Bonnar was jailed for three and a half years after he brandished a hatchet at his then partner and left her with multiple injuries - and then tried to claim that she had inflicted the wounds on herself.

The judge who imposed that sentence told Bonnar that he was "a danger in the community".

And six years before that he was handed a 32-month sentence for being in possession of a knife in the Larkfield area - at the time his fourth conviction for weapons, leading a sheriff to slam his "appalling" criminal record.

Bonnar had also at one stage spent time at the State Hospital at Carstairs.

Lord Ericht adjourned the case for reports until October 22 in Edinburgh.