A THUG stabbed his uncle 26 times during a frenzied murder bid in Barrhead.

Martin Joyce, 36, suddenly turned on Andrew Gray at the victim's home in Sunnyside Place on May 31 this year.

Mr Gray yelled at him: "Martin, what are you doing?"

Prosecutor Louise Beattie told the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday that there had been a "verbal altercation" between the men after they had been watching TV.

Joyce had returned from the kitchen with a knife, and initially struck his uncle on the neck.

He then went after Mr Gray as he tried to escape out the front door, and continued the assault.

Miss Beattie: "During the course of the attack, Andrew Gray sustained a total of 26 stab wounds to his head, neck, back and arms."

The injured victim staggered onto the street and flagged down a passing car for help.

Joyce also fled, but then dialled 999 himself, stating he was in the grounds of St Conval's Cemetery in Barrhead.

Police did not find him there and instead he was traced to his mother's house in Glasgow.

The court heard Mr Gray needed urgent hospital treatment including a blood transfusion and he also suffered a punctured lung.

He was only able to be discharged more than a week later.

On Thursday, Joyce pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder.

His lawyer Paul Mullen said: "He was very clear from the outset that he wanted to plead guilty to this matter."

Lord Scott deferred sentence until January 11, when Joyce will appear at the High Court in Stirling, and remanded him in custody.