Jason Collins gets lifelong order for Uddingston attack Published duration 24 July 2013

A 29-year-old man who stabbed a friend before setting him alight and scalding him with boiling water has been given on order for lifelong restriction.

Jason Collins attacked Daniel Finnan, 44, at a house in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, on 8 April last year after a drunken row over an alleged debt.

He admitted a charge of attempted murder over the attack.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Collins was ordered to serve a minimum of three years and nine months in jail.

The lifelong restriction order means he will only be released when the parole board is satisfied he no longer poses a risk.

Repeatedly stabbed

At an earlier hearing Collins admitted attempting to murder Mr Finnan in Collins' father's home in Uddingston.

The court heard how Collins fetched a knife from the kitchen and repeatedly stabbed Mr Finnan, puncturing a lung.

Collins then produced a cigarette lighter and set fire to the front of Mr Finnan's trousers.

As his victim tried to beat out the flames, Collins told him: "I'll just light it again" and did so.

Collins then boiled a pan of water, stood over Mr Finnan and poured the scalding liquid over his head.

Mr Finnan ran home and was found later in his bed, covered in blood.

Defensive injuries

He was taken to Monklands Hospital where doctors found scalds or burns to his left side, face and neck, slashes to his forehead, eyelid and mouth as well as defensive injuries to his hands.

There were also eight knife wounds to his back and chest - which could have proved fatal.

At the High Court in Edinburgh today, defence advocate Louise Arrol said Collins only posed a threat when drunk.

She told the court: "He is someone who is seeking comfort by attending church within the prison system".

Lord Bracadale told Collins: "It is to your credit that you have committed yourself to improvement in custody and you should continue on that course."

Referring to the attack, the judge added: "This involved a prolonged and sustained course of conduct involving a series of assaults amounting to a form of torture."