A STREET valium user who inflicted life-threatening, catastrophic injuries on a man in a murder bid was jailed for six years today.

John McNamara, 47, repeatedly stamped and jumped on James Donaldson's face after the victim asked him to leave his home in Peel View, Clydebank.

McNamara continued the brutal attack despite a woman pleading with him to stop.

A judge told McNamara at the High Court in Edinburgh: "It was a determined attack upon the complainer that you perpetrated. As you accept the consequences for him could hardly have been more serious."

Lord Burns said: "He was on a life support system for a considerable time."

The judge said the most up to date report he had on the victim showed that he can only communicate to a very limited degree and is unable to walk.

Lord Burns said: "His mother, in her statement to this court, gives a pretty harrowing picture of her son and the prognosis is bleak for him."

He said McNamara had carried out "a violent and prolonged attack" on his victim.

The judge added that he accepted that he had shown "a degree of remorse for this terrible act against Mr Donaldson".

He told McNamara, of Jean Armour Drive, that he would have faced an eight year jail sentence, but for his guilty plea.

McNamara earlier admitted attempting to murder Mr Donaldson, 48, on October 12 last year at Peel View by repeatedly stamping and jumping on his head and body to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of his life.

Lord Burns also ordered that he should be kept under supervision for a further three years.

The court heard that McNamara had gone to the victim's flat and consumed street valium but they had argued.

McNamara fell asleep and was woken by Mr Donaldson telling him to leave. Mr Donaldson shouted at him to get out as he tried to gather his belongings and the pair rowed before a fight broke out in the hallway.

A woman who was in the flat saw the victim lying still on the floor with McNamara standing over him and repeatedly jumping and stamping on his face.

She tried to pull the attacker away and urged him to stop but was warned: "Get away before you get it."

Mr Donaldson was taken to hospital suffering a bleed to the brain, a fractured eye socket and four broken ribs.

After the attack, the victim's mother was told that it was likely he will require constant care for the rest of his life.

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Defence counsel Jennifer Bain said that McNamara was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and a psychiatrist who saw him said he relived past events when he and a friend were attacked by five youths and his friend was kicked to death.

McNamara was "hyper vigilant" and could be quick to react to a perceived threat.

She said the painter and decorator was appalled by his "overreaction" in the attack on Mr Donaldson and added: "He remains shocked at what occurred."