Knifeman jailed for brutal attack on ex's dad

Ramsay Trabelsi appeared today (Tuesday) at Dundee Sheriff Court after admitting assaulting Callum Carmichael to the danger of his life.

After his arrest Trabelsi launched a tirade at his victim – before laughing at police when they charged him then asking them: “How many times did I stab him?”

The thug launched the attack after getting into a row with his former partner, Demi Carmichael, over the return of a tattoo gun he had left at her house.

Trabelsi turned up armed with a lock knife at Miss Carmichael’s home in Springfield, and got into an argument with Mr Carmichael – who had come round to change the tyre on his daughter’s car.

Trabelsi squared up to Mr Carmichael who hit him in a bid to get him on the floor and restrain him.

As Mr Carmichael pinned the thug down he felt Trabelsi lashing out at him – then saw a blood stained lock knife in his hand.

Had the knife not struck a rib doctors said it would have punctured his chest and caused potentially fatal injuries.

Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin told the court: “He could see he had been stabbed several times under his rib cage.

“His daughter tried to remove the knife from the accused but could not.

“A neighbour heard shouting and screaming and came out and was able to disarm him.

“Mr Carmichael was taken to Ninewells Hospital and was found to have three stab wounds, one of which had fractured a rib.

“Had the rib not blocked the knife it would have penetrated his chest.

“When officers arrived the accused was covered in blood and walked calmly towards them.

“Once inside the police van the accused leaned over and screamed insults at Mr Carmichael, who was receiving treatment.

“He showed no remorse and laughed during his arrest and charge procedures.

“At one point he said ‘he shouldn’t have acted like a hard man – how many times did I stab him?’”

Trabelsi (29) a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to possessing lock knife and assaulting Mr Carmichael to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life on October 25 last year.

Defence solicitor Alan Davie said: “His comments smack of misplaced bravado. He has reflected on his behaviour since and he does regret it. He accepts custody is inevitable given his record and the nature of the offence.”

Sheriff Tom Hughes told Trabelsi he would have been jailed for five years but for his early guilty plea.

Instead he was jailed for three years, six months, with a year’s extended licence upon his release.

The sheriff said: “You caused serious injuries to your victim in this case. This kind of offending can have catastrophic consequences.”