A CONVICTED killer who was released early from prison chased a man down the street during a 20-minute attack.

Martin Hall had been free for just 48 hours when he launched the seemingly unprovoked assault through Main Street, Alexandria, last September.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to his latest crime, following on from a lengthy record including those for weapons, significant violence and culpable homicide.

Hall confessed in 2006 to stabbing James Brown, 47, with a screwdriver in a row over broken windows. He was just a teenager at the time but left Mr Brown naked and blood-stained in Kirkpatrick Crescent, Alexandria.

Last week, Hall admitted he launched a new attack outside and inside businesses in the town’s Main Street.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to charges of chasing an unidentified man into the street and causing vehicles to take evasive action, and to kicking and headbutting the door of TOA Taxis and smashing a glass panel with an unknown object.

Fiscal depute Kevin Doherty told the court Hall was seen on CCTV walking towards the Bank of Scotland just before 9pm on September 19.

As he stops and sits for a cigarette, another man is walking down the street and passes Hall, who immediately gets up.

The man is seen holding his arms out to keep his distance and Hall continues to try to provoke a fight.

Mr Doherty said: “They know each other and it may be the victim can tell [Hall] is intoxicated and is trying to keep him back.

“The victim approaches a taxi and tries to enter it but is prevented. Hall is repeatedly throwing punches that land on his head and body.

“He repeatedly tries to get away from Mr Hall.”

Hall followed the man into the Ladbrokes where the assault continued, then stops as CCTV captures them in some sort of conversation.

But Hall is still trying to fight and after a few minutes, the other man leaves and is again pursued by Hall.

The man goes into the waiting area of TOA Taxis and holds the door shut.

Mr Doherty added: “Mr Hall expends a considerable amount of time trying to gain entry.”

Police were finally informed at 9.15pm about the incident and Hall had left the scene by the time they arrived.

Officers found the victim “shaking” but he refused to provide a statement to police.

Mr Doherty said despite the 20-minute incident, the victim had “no injuries”.

In November 2017, Hall was jailed for 13 months for attacking a man with a pot to the head in Cullen Street, Alexandria. When he was sentenced, he was already serving eight months for breaching a community payback order.

But last week in court, his defence solicitor said the CCTV evidence of the September attack was “a shock to him”.

Lauren Kerr said: “It was a bit of a wake-up call. He accepts he has a serious record, particularly the offence in 2006. All were while under the influence.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry, who noted Hall had only been free 48 hours before his latest attack, deferred sentence until February 15 for reports to be prepared.

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How the Dumbarton Reporter covered the sentencing of Martin Hall on December 13, 2006

A TEENAGE killer — who stabbed a man with a screwdriver in a row about broken windows — has been locked-up for six years and nine months.

Martin Hall — appearing for sentence on his 19th birthday — was first questioned by cops after being named by witnesses.

A court heard how a friend of James Brown, 47, found his naked and blood-stained body in his home at Kirkpatrick Crescent, Alexandria, on June 11.

In the pursuing of the investigation, police spoke to crucial witnesses, who said that Hall had told them he had killed Brown.

This included Hall’s mum Donna — who did not turn him in but did eventually corroborate that her son had confessed to being responsible.

Eventually Hall admitted to killing Brown.

He was charged with murder but, in court, his guilty plea to culpable homicide was accepted.

He admitted seizing a screwdriver which had been lying on a couch and plunging it into Mr Brown’s neck before fleeing from the house.

Mr Brown, 47, was described in court as a drug-dealer with a violent reputation whose criminal record included three High Court convictions.

Hall said he had panicked when the older man accused him of breaking windows in his home and lunged at him with outstretched arms.

He had a record for carrying weapons.

The judge made an order that Hall should be kept under strict supervision for an extra three years after his release.