Knife thug jailed for 17 years

James Paxton, 23, carried out a frenzied machete assault under orders from James Demarco, a killer serving time in Saughton Prison.

Murderer Demarco, 18, was also jailed for a further 45 months after listening in to the attack and the victim's screams over the phone.

He told Paxton to "stab f*** out" of the intended target because he had gone out with an ex-girlfriend – but he got the wrong man.

The victim, George Stewart, shared a nickname – G – with Demarco's intended target for the assault, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Paxton, who also carried out two other knife attacks within a month, was jailed for a total of 17 years and one month. He was also ordered to be kept under supervision for a further four years.

Lord Brailsford told Paxton said: "The circumstances of these offences are both wicked and depraved."

The judge told Demarco, who is currently serving at least 15 years for murder, that his latest sentence should start at the end of his minimum term.

Lord Brailsford told him: "You instigated Paxton to carry out the assault. It is clearly reprehensible conduct."

Demarco called the judge "a f*****g prick" as he was being led from the dock to start his latest jail term.

The court earlier heard that Paxton told Demarco during the recorded phone call that he would be joining him in jail and boasted he would come in "walking like John Wayne".