A MURDER bid thug who left his Irvine victim fearing he was going to be stabbed in the eyes has been jailed for nine years.

John Paul Forbes, 26, was part of an attack on Robert English in the town in the early hours of July 6, 2023.

The victim was struck with knives, a machete and screwdriver.

Mr English tried to yell on residents to help, but was chased away before the horror assault continued.

Prosecutor Michael MacIntosh said: "Robert English formed the view they were attempting to stab his eyes."

The High Court in Glasgow heard the victim ended up needing major surgery.

These included injuries to his heart and lung having been attacked with the weapons.

He also had wounds to his face, arms and back.

Mr MacIntosh said Forbes was initially spotted by police near the scene clutching a machete, which he threw away.

He was later seen again - this time bare-chested. The thug was arrested and lied to officers that he did not know Mr English.

About the attack, he stated: "That is a lot of s****."

But Forbes pleaded guilty to an attempted murder charge at a hearing on Friday, May 10.

He had previously been locked up for a number of violent crimes.

Forbes' lawyer, Callum Hiller, said the victim was "no innocent bystander who was randomly attacked".

Lord Arthurson told Forbes the jail term would have been 12 years, but for the guilty plea.

The judge added: "The ferocity of your concerted attack, your record and the severity of the injuries categorise this as one at the uppermost gravity."