A DAD who stabbed a a love rival in a brutal murder bid at a Greenock flat was yesterday jailed for nine years.

Kevin Best, 30, had told his victim: "You are not in the ground yet - but you will be."

The High Court in Glasgow heard that the man had been in an 'on-off' relationship with a 19-year old woman and she started seeing Best - who flew into a rage when he found the 24-year-old at her flat in the east end.

The victim was left 'drenched in blood' after Best repeatedly lashed out at him with a broken piece of glass

Best was convicted of attempted murder after trial, having claimed he was defending himself during the incident at the flat in St Lawrence Street on May 30 last year.

A judge has ordered Best to be monitored in the community for three years after his release from prison.

Defence counsel Janice Green said: "The accused went to the flat unarmed and there was no plan.

"This was a crime of passion, if you like, caused by his feelings for the woman.”

Jurors heard how the victim's relationship with the young woman had ended in late 2017 and she dated Best.

But the court was told was told the pair got back together in 2018 and the victim was at the teenager's flat when she came home with Best.

The victim told prosecutor Chris McKenna the attack was 'a blur'.

He said: "He was telling me to leave the house. He said that he wanted to stay there."

The man had initially thought he was being punched, but said: "He got me on the neck and that was when the blood was spurting out."

During the attack Best yelled at the man: "This is not over!"

Jurors were shown graphic photos of the man's numerous injuries, including a large gash to his head.

Best, who has previous convictions for violence, was told by Judge Michael O'Grady QC: “From the evidence and the verdict this was an unprovoked and horrific attack.

"If you did not intend to kill your victim, you were at least utterly indifferent to the consequences.”