Son admits knife attack on mother

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A man who repeatedly stabbed his mother only hours after she celebrated her birthday has been warned he faces jail.

Steven Cargill, 27, from Perth, knifed his mother Patricia Holden eight times following a disagreement over music.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how a bleeding Ms Holden ran upstairs screaming and woke her sleeping husband, who called for an ambulance.

Lady Smith deferred sentence on Cargill and released him on bail on condition he does not contact his victim.

Cargill, of Newhouse Road in Perth, pled guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life on 5 August.

Lady Smith was told that the mother and son had got on well before the incident.

Advocate depute Derick Nelson said: "Sadly since the incident there has been no contact whatsoever and this is likely to continue, meaning that this incident continues to have a distressing effect upon the victim."

Thankfully this is not a tragic case, but it is a very sad one Ronnie RenucciDefence lawyer

Mr Nelson said on the night of the attack people had been at the house celebrating Ms Holden's 46th birthday.

After everyone left, Ms Holden and her son began to discuss Cargill's deceased father.

The prosecutor said the pair had been dancing and added: "She states that she and her son then disagreed over which music to play."

Mr Nelson said the disagreement turned into an argument after Ms Holden told the accused he was "just like his father".

Cargill then started punching his mother as she screamed at him to stop.

The prosecutor said Cargill threatened to kill his mother before plunging a knife into her arm and stabbing her repeatedly.

Sticking plasters

Ms Holden managed to run out of the room and upstairs to alert her husband, with Cargill in pursuit.

Mr Holden phoned for an ambulance and Cargill could be heard in the background asking if he could do anything to help and wanting to know where sticking plasters were kept.

His mother was taken to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital where doctors described wounds to her chest and back as "potentially extremely serious".

Defence lawyer Ronnie Renucci said experts had decided that Cargill was sane and fit to plead.

He added: "Thankfully this is not a tragic case, but it is a very sad one."