Man who first met dad in jail slashed his face in ‘savage’ revenge assault over mum
Lee Spence, 25, attacked his father John Spence with a blade at HMP Perth on July 12 last year, leaving him with a wound running from his ear to his neck which needed more than 40 stitches
Lee Spence, 25, attacked his father with a blade at HMP Perth(Image: source unknown
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A man who attempted to murder his father in a “savage, premeditated and unprovoked attack” during their first-ever encounter behind bars has been jailed.
Lee Spence, 25, launched a vicious assault on his father using a blade at HMP Perth on July 12 last year, inflicting a horrific gash stretching from his ear to his neck that required over 40 stitches.
Spence admitted to striking his father John Spence on the head and neck with a blade and attempting to murder him when the case was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh in November.
The court was told in November that Spence informed prison guards he had slashed his father due to how he had supposedly mistreated his mother during his infancy, revealing he had used a blade which he later disposed of down a toilet.
Spence had never previously met his father and the two men were complete strangers to each other, despite both being inmates on the same prison wing, the court was informed.
Lord Renucci imposed an extended sentence on Spence consisting of eight years and three months behind bars plus three years of supervision following his release when he appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday.
He declared: “This was a savage, premeditated and unprovoked attack on your father though he was unaware of that at this time.”
The judge continued: “You have shown absolutely no remorse for you actions, quite the opposite, you appear to revel in them. This was a genuine attempt to murder your father.”
The court was told that Spence has several prior convictions on his record.
Lord Renucci warned him: “If you do not do something to address your offending you are in danger of spending the majority of your life in custody, but that is up to you.”
The court had previously been informed that Spence’s father received medical care at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after the assault.
Gordon Martin KC, acting for Spence, told the court on Friday that his client had acknowledged his guilt for the crime at the first chance.
He explained: “He is clearly someone who has come from a very difficult family background and he is someone who has suffered significant adverse childhood experiences.”
