TWO thugs who tried to kill a man in a brutal attack in his Greenock home have been jailed for a total of almost 20 years.

Patrick Docherty, 34, and Samuel Bonnar, 36, targeted Aiden Rush at the flat on June 13, 2022.

The victim was punched, kicked, and stabbed, as well as bludgeoned with a weights bar.

The assailants fled the scene, leaving Mr Rush badly hurt.

READ MORE: Greenock sex predator jailed for raping woman as she slept at his home in the town

An air ambulance was called to fly the wounded man to hospital in Glasgow.

But local louts prevented the helicopter from landing and he had to instead be transferred by road in a regular ambulance.

Docherty and Bonnar had denied the attempted murder during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Bonnar had lodged a special defence of alibi.

But the pair, already serial criminals, were convicted on Friday.

Docherty appeared to react angrily as the verdict was announced.

He took off his glasses, stood up and tried to climb from the dock towards the stairs leading back to the cells.

Docherty had to be restrained by court security and police in the courtroom.

READ MORE: Police close off access to Greenock streets in ongoing operation

As a result, the court was adjourned for around 20 minutes by judge Lord Arthurson.

Docherty did not return from the cells when the hearing resumed.

Lord Arthurson went on to sentence Docherty to nine years, and Bonnar to nine years and six months.

It emerged both had been in jail a total of more than 30 times for offences which included Docherty once assaulting someone with a crossbow.

Bonnar had a number of convictions for violence and was previously locked up at the High Court for six years in 2012.

Lord Arthurson stated: "You entered the flat with your heads hooded in what was plainly a pre-meditated, concerted and targeted attack.

"Footage showed you arriving and leaving together as well as walking and running through various streets in Greenock to flee the scene.

READ MORE: Stephen McCabe steps down as Inverclyde Council leader after court appearance

"Work colleagues [of the victim] in the flat at the time of the murderous attack commendably and promptly dialled 999."

The court heard Mr Rush's injuries included a collapsed lung.

The judge added: "Had no medical intervention taken place the injuries sustained could have presented a risk to life."

Lawyers for the pair had earlier told the court that both had been affected by personal issues in their lives prior to the attack.

Thomas Lewis, 28, had also faced the attempted murder charge, but jurors returned a not proven verdict.