Man Sentenced for Attempted Murder in Plean Stabbing
Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find distressing
A man who inflicted serious stab wounds on his cousin in Stirlingshire has been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison.
Thomas McCallum was convicted of attempted murder after he attacked 44-year-old Roddy Stewart in the street in Plean, leaving him with severe injuries.
During sentencing at the High Court in Stirling, the judge told McCallum, "
you did not care if he lived or died."
The 35-year-old was found guilty following a four-day trial held in December 2024.
Details of the Incident
The attack occurred in May 2024 on Wallace Crescent in the village of Plean.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Stewart had gone to a woman's home prior to the assault.
Jurors heard that Stewart was attacked by McCallum after this visit. It was claimed that Stewart had gone to the residence to collect money and was reportedly "
shouting something about chopping or stabbing, something to do with her children."
The woman's partner, George Williamson, who has since passed away, was said to have pursued Stewart and struck him with a golf club.
In response, Stewart struck Williamson with the broken neck of a Buckfast bottle, after which McCallum stabbed Stewart twice—once in the stomach and once in the upper torso.
Emergency Medical Response
Prosecutor Paul Mullen stated that McCallum attacked Stewart with the intent to kill, leaving him "
with his intestines on the outside of his body."
Witness Charlene Morgan, 46, a friend of Stewart, recounted assisting the injured man by helping him "
hold in his guts."
Local resident Greg Forsyth, 35, who was passing by at the time, described the scene: "
A boy walked up to me holding his guts and asked me to phone for an ambulance."
Stewart was transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow with his bowel protruding from a stomach wound.
He underwent emergency surgery, with doctors reporting that he had lost a significant volume of blood, which could have resulted in organ failure.
The trial revealed that Stewart sustained a scar extending from his armpit to below his navel.
While giving evidence, Stewart lifted his shirt to display his scars, pointed at McCallum in the dock, and stated: "
That (expletive) animal did that."
Defendant’s Claim and Sentencing
McCallum denied the charge, asserting that it was George Williamson who had stabbed Stewart.
He appeared via video link for sentencing.
Judge Lord Stuart addressed McCallum: "
Entirely unprovoked and with a knife you must have brought from the house, you stabbed Mr Stewart."
He continued, "
The jury verdict makes it clear you intended to kill him or you did not care whether he lived or died."
Following his release, Stewart will be subject to community monitoring for five years.
