Published: Thursday, 24th July, 2008 1:15pm

AXEMAN IS CAGED

by Amanda Keenan

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A SICK thug laughed after being caged for 32 months for a brutal axe attack on a Barrhead teenager.

Evil Stephen Scullion was sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court this week after pleading guilty to the vicious assault.

The court heard that Scullion, 25, alongside his co-accused Lewis Goldfarb, 24, attacked Craig Johnstone, in Cross Arthurlie Street, on October 6 last year.

CCTV cameras captured Scullion striking his victim with an axe while Goldfarb used a knife to stab him in the violent street attack.

Twisted Scullion was seen acting suspiciously, holding the collar of his jacket up as if to conceal the lower half of his face, while keeping the axe out of view with his other hand.

He was seen to raise the axe then strike his 19-year-old victim. Goldfarb, dressed in a hoodie, produced a knife and joined the attack.

Scullion"s solicitor told the court: 'The accused and his friends were drinking in the Loft Bar on Cross Arthurlie Street, Barrhead, when they became involved in an altercation.

'Both men were armed with knifes and after striking their victim several times they ran off.

'My client is aware of the serious nature of what he has done and is deeply remorseful.

'I would ask the court to consider another form of punishment rather than custodial - perhaps probation or community service.'

Depute Fiscal Tony Quigley said that Craig Johnstone was rushed by ambulance to Paisley"s Royal Alexandria Hospital suffering from a number of wounds to his shoulders, neck and lower back. His injuries were serious and severe.

Sheriff David Pender told Scullion, of Braidcroft Road, Pollok: 'It is clear from your social enquiry report that you had a good start in life, you went to a good school and had good prospects ahead of you.

'But given the nature of this crime and the fact that you have previous convictions for possession of a knife - I am imposing a prison sentence of 32 months starting from today.'

Goldfarb of Glenora Drive, Pollok, was jailed for three-and-a-half years last month because of his "appalling" criminal record.

Last week the Barrhead News revealed that top cop Chief Inspector Kenny Graham is warning all Barrhead neds 'carry a knife and you will go to jail.'

Barrhead police are continuing their tough stance against knife crime by carrying out "stop and searches" in the town.

The move comes after knife crime in the town rose by 25 per cent and disturbingly there have been two attempted murders and 13 stabbings over the past 13 weeks.

Now the Scottish Government and Criminal Justice System are getting tough on knife crime and will be imposing tougher sentences on thugs who carry blades.