A man who slashed a 17-year-old girl on the neck with a knife after a disturbance in Wishaw has been jailed for 18 months.
First offender Paul Gillies was furious that a neighbour's window had been smashed, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard this week.
He attacked the girl who was taken to hospital with cuts to her neck and will have permanent scarring.
Gillies, 45, admitted assault to injury and permanent disfigurement in Glencleland Road, Craigneuk, on July 1 last year.
He also admitted illegal possession of a knife in the street.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said police were called around 8pm after a window was smashed during a disturbance involving a group of girls.
He told the court: "It's not clear what happened, but a pregnant woman was taken to hospital.
"Gillies was then seen to walk along the street with a large knife in his hand.
"He approached a girl aged 17. What her connection was to the disturbance is not clear, but there was an incident involving her and Gillies on the stairs leading to a flat.
"This resulted in him striking the girl on the neck with the knife.
"Police officers saw Gillies walking towards his house with the knife in his hand and he then dropped it."
The girl was taken to hospital where a nurse observed two six-inch cuts to her neck.
Mr Thomson added: "The girl decided not to stay at the hospital to have the wounds examined properly and treated.
"The only medical evidence is from the triage nurse who said she would have scarring."
Defence agent Stephen McQuillan described Gillies as "a true first offender".
He stated: "A pregnant neighbour had been attacked and was in a state of distress. My client went to assist her. That background does not excuse what happened next. It's a very serious incident."
Gillies has since moved from the area.
Mr McQuillan said his client could do unpaid work or pay compensation to the victim, adding: "There are alternatives and I ask the court to step back from imposing a prison sentence."
Passing sentence, Sheriff Liam Murphy told Gillies: "I take into account your age, the fact that you are a first offender and the remorse shown, but I see no alternative to custody."
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