20 December 2011 Last updated at 13:09 ET

Woman needed 63 stitches after Motherwell garden attack

A man who slashed his ex-girlfriend, leaving her needing 63 stitches, has been jailed for four years.

Kenneth McCarron attacked Louise Young as she sat in the garden of her home in Motherwell in July.

He also slashed Ms Young's mother as she tried to protect her. The attack came after Ms Young dumped McCarron.

He had previously admitted assaulting Ms Young, 22, to the danger of her life. He also pled guilty to attacking her mother, Karen Young.

Lord Bracadale told him: "This was a very nasty attack on two women. One was your girlfriend, the other her mother. Both will be left with permanent scarring."

The judge also ordered McCarron to be supervised for a further two years on his release.

'Without warning'

McCarron has previously been jailed for violent offences - including a 20-month sentence in 2005.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the couple had been dating for six weeks prior to the attack on 11 July.

Prosecutor David Nicolson said Ms Young told McCarron she wanted "time apart".

McCarron later repeatedly called her mobile phone, but she refused to answer.

He then turned up at her home, claiming he had belongings to collect.

Mr Nicolson told the court that McCarron came out to decking where Ms Young was sitting and "without warning" repeatedly lashed out with a kitchen knife.

The mother and daughter were both taken to hospital for treatment.

Tony Lenehan, defending, said these were "unpleasant offences" and that McCarron was aware of the harm he caused.