Musician scarred for life in horror slashing attack after masked stranger storms stage
Guitarist and singer Craig Scott has opened up on his mental health battle.
A musician has been left scarred for life after he was viciously slashed as he performed on stage. Craig Scott, 34, was butchered by a masked stranger in the random attack at The Station Bar in Stevenston, Ayrshire, on December 20 last year.
He needed 27 stitches to a devastating facial wound after the thug ripped his skin from his jaw to his chin. He is now speaking of his ordeal for the first time after his attacker, Craig Byers, was sentenced to 10 years in prison over the violent assault last week.
Byers, 34, was also convicted of knifing Craig's pal. Craig told the Record: "I had seen the guy earlier in the evening for a couple of seconds when I was out getting a cigarette. He passed, spoke to my friend and then spoke to me.
"He told me he needed to go up the road because he had an electronic tag on and I said, 'no worries, man, all the best for Christmas '. I shook his hand and off he went.
"Later on, he ran in with a balaclava on, slashed my friend at the bar, then slashed me on stage. He ran back out and the whole thing was over in about 30 seconds.
"It was very, very scary. It was mental and shocking for everyone. I had only one interaction with this individual in my life and I don't know why he did what he did. I was thinking all sorts of stuff.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
"Asking myself if I'd said something wring in that tiny interaction, but I know for a fact I didn't." The traumatic incident saw Craig taking a near-four-month break from performing, but he has powered through and found the strength to get back on stage.
He continued: "I was in the shadows for a couple of months and didn't socialise. I had anxious fears over my appearance and that was difficult for me. I had to mentally build up to going back out on stage.
"I was always really nervous anyway, so it's definitely hard at the moment. I'm basically putting on a brave face and faking my way through it, while feeling extremely overwhelmed.
"It takes a lot out of me, but I've had unbelievable support from many many people who have helped me through. I couldn't be more thankful to everyone who has helped me and are continuing to help me rebuild some confidence."
Speaking on Byers' sentence, Craig added: "I think that's a fair sentence. I'm actually surprised it wasn't longer, but I still wouldn't wish it upon him. I've read about his other crimes and his track record.
"That makes me feel like he's going to have his work cut out for him to keep the head for 10 years. Ideally, you want people to turn their lives around and be better. I just hope the system continues to work and actually rehabilitates him."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley speaks about his grief after father 'died on the spot'
ITV star Richard Madeley recalled the difficult time in his life. Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid were back on screens presenting Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning. The pair were delivering the headlines and news updates to ITV viewers at home. During the morning programme they were also joined by Emmerdale's Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, where they had a heartfelt conversation. Lisa spoke about her character Mandy's current storylines but also touched on her personal battles with loss, mentioning the passing of both her mother and her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Robin Windsor. The conversation sparked Richard to share his own heartbreaking memory of his dad's sudden death back in 1977. He sadly passed away just days after he married first wife, Lynda Hooley. Richard looked back at that time in his life and said: "I remember when my father died. He died on the spot, had a heart attack when he was 49. Huge shock. I was a breakfast producer then, a radio producer." He then recalled the difficult period following his father's death: "I remember I had a week off to come to terms with it. After the funeral, I went in, and the guy that I worked with didn't say a word. He didn't say, 'how are you, or what happened', he obviously felt it was best not to talk about it." He continued, expressing understanding yet disagreement with his colleague's reaction: "I don't blame him for that. He couldn't have been more wrong. You want people to come up to you and talk to you. You need that trigger to talk." Previously, Richard opened up on the negative impact of smoking on his family, stating on the Dr Hilary Show podcast: "I think what gave my grandfather, uncle and father their heart attacks, and the one that killed my father, as I said they were heavy smokers." He disclosed a shocking detail about his dad: "My dad, at one stage, was on two packs a day and he died at 49." Elsewhere on the programme Richard Arnold joined the panel to offer the latest scoops in showbiz and television. During his segment, Richard paid homage to the legendary musician Brian Wilson following the announcement of his passing on Wednesday, June 11. Brian was a founding member of the iconic Beach Boys. The lead singer and co-founder of the band died at the age of 82, with his cause of death yet to be disclosed. "A real pop pioneer. He co-founded one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, the Beach Boys, rivalling The Beatles," Richard shared with his audience. He also reminisced about his own discovery of the Beach Boys back in the 1970s, admitting he played their records "constantly" and was "very much a Beach Boys fan". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Former police chief makes plea over youth violence and knife crime
The former head of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency says a Scottish Government summit on youth violence can stop teenagers becoming involved in organised crime A FORMER police chief has called for a new crackdown on knives to prevent youngsters becoming the organised crime kingpins of tomorrow. First Minister John Swinney will today host a summit to look at ways of tackling the epidemic of youth violence. The move follows the deaths of 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine beach, Ayrshire, last month and Amen Teklay, 15, in Glasgow in March. In an exclusive interview with Criminal Record - our new weekly podcast - Graeme Pearson, former Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), said young people using knives are easy prey for gangsters. He recognises keeping young men on the right side of the law can be difficult when they see the money being earned from the "wealth pie" of organised crime. In the last three months an organised crime explosion across Scotland has seen a series of firebombings and attacks on Daniel family members and their associates. Some of the 42 people arrested are in their late teens and early 20s. Graeme Pearson added: "You are talking hundreds of millions of pounds from the drugs trade. There will always be someone willing to accept money to commit these attacks. "The lifestyle that comes with the wealth is something they would not have experienced in their previous life. "Suddenly young people who come from working class-type backgrounds are getting access to high-value cars and houses and world travel." Pearson said it's important young people realise the downside is a seven day-a-week risk of being shot or police arrest. "Paranoia then sets in. Suddenly the lifestyle is not as glamorous." The ex-cop wants the youth violence summit to lead to more jobs and better educational opportunities for teenagers and more attractive options than a life of crime. He cotinued: "It's important we don't lecture young people about criminality - they know what's going on. "They need to know there is a job for them. If we are talking about youth clubs then we need to invest in them." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Pearson believes the latest increase in drugs deaths is a legacy of 20 years of failure and false promises.. The country has the highest drugs death rate in Europe and new Scottish Government figures show drug deaths in Scotland rose by a third to 308 in the first three months of this year. Pearson added: "We have had a growing demand for drugs which is generated by crime. "We have been told over the years that measures being taken would reduce the numbers of drugs deaths but that hasn't happened. "We still have needles in public places. "More than 25 per cent assets of our prisoners are on methadone. "We need new methods of intervention and treatment and at the same time invest in the enforcement that reduces the numbers of drugs coming into the country to be abused." Pearson, a former Labour MSP and justice spokesman, also wants tougher proceeds of crime laws to make it harder for gangs to hide their assets. The SCDEA was formed in 2001 to target organised crime. Pearson led it between 2004 and 2007 when a number of major criminals were brought to justice. It was disbanded in 2013 after the formation of Police Scotland. He said steps must be taken by politicians and police to protect children and our way of life from organised crime. The former police chief wants greater powers for the police and courts to both freeze and seize criminal assets. Pearson added: "We need new proceeds of crime legislation as a matter of urgency. I spent a lot of time in the early 2000s promoting the original legislation. I was told what I was recommending was draconian. "The last 20 years have shown what happens when one is relaxed about how you address the seizure of assets from organised crime. "We do not seize enough and draw the wealth that comes from it. That is the key to tackling organised crime - you reduce the profit then you seize the profit." He added: " Organised crime is a cancer. It's killing communities and holding back legitimate businesses through intimidation." "Pearson said tougher proceeds of crime laws means money recovered could be reinvested in the communities and estates where the profits were plundered. He believes one way of tackling organised crime between groups like the Lyons and Daniel clans s is more cops disrupting gang members' day-to-day activities. He said: "What the public need is more police officers on the beat. It might be traditional but it works." This week the Record delivers a three-part video series documenting 25 years of warfare between the Lyons and Daniel crime clans. Visit our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok to see the latest For the latest news, views and opinions on Scotland's crime scene, check out Criminal Record - a new weekly podcast brought to you by the Record team . Each week, crime writer Norman Silvester discusses the latest in the gangland turf war and all the other big crime news of the week. Tune in on the Record's YouTube channel or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Man arrested after cops seize drugs worth £250,000 from vehicle on Scots motorway
Police found cocaine inside the vehicle after stopping it on Wednesday night. Cops seized drugs worth £250,000 from a vehicle on a Scots motorway. A man has been arrested and charged following the incident, which happened near Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway on Wednesday night. Police stopped the vehicle at around 9.15pm. Inside they found cocaine with an estimated street value of £250,000. A 63-year-old man was arrested and charged. He is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court today. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Sands said: 'Drugs cause misery in our communities, and we are determined to disrupt the supply of illegal substances and trace those involved. 'This recovery means a significant quantity of drugs will not end up on our streets and underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Anyone with any information or concerns about drugs in their community can call Police Scotland on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
