by Grant McCabe

A WOMAN pleaded for her life as a Scotstoun mum-to-be brutally stabbed her in an apparently unprovoked attack.

Lynda Christie was struck by Ashley McLaughlin, 25, as the victim begged: “What are you doing? You know I have kids.”

She suffered a punctured lung and needed more than 20 stitches after being knifed last May.

The incident was said to have occurred after Ms Christie allegedly “bad-mouthed” McLaughlin's friend Caroline Broadfoot a week earlier.

The story emerged as McLaughlin pled guilty to assaulting Ms Christie to the danger of her life.

The High Court in Glasgow heard McLaughlin is currently three and a half month's pregnant.

A judge warned her she faces jail – but continued bail meantime so she can attend a hospital appointment next week.

McLaughlin will return to the dock next month.

The stabbing happened at her then home in the city's Castlemilk area.

A number of people were there at the time before a fight broke out between Ms Christie and Broadfoot.

Ms Christie was initially hit by Broadfoot and then McLaughlin joined in. As the victim was punched and kicked, she pleaded for help and asked the pair to stop.

McLaughlin then grabbed a knife and stabbed a screaming Ms Christie.

Two men – who could see from outside what was happening – burst into the flat and yelled “police” in a bid to stop the attack.

McLaughlin and Broadfoot fled the blood-splattered property, but were later held by police.

Broadfoot, of the city's Tollcross, admitted she had a row with Ms Christie claiming she had previously “bad mouthed” her.

The court heard Ms Christie suffered a punctured lung with medics stating the injury was life threatening. She has been left scarred for life and may require plastic surgery.

Broadfoot, 37, also appeared in the dock on Friday and pled guilty to assaulting Ms Christie to her injury.

Judge Lord Boyd deferred sentencing for reports.