A VIOLENT thug stabbed his lover 12 times and then claimed the wounds were self-inflicted, a court was told.

But, police did not believe Francis McCudden because three of the stab wounds were in his victim's back.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that McCudden lashed out with two knives after 39-year-old Angela Rae complained about a smashed coffee table.

Today, McCudden, 54, admitted attempting to murder Ms Rae at their flat in Red Bridge Court, Coatbridge, on March 4.

Ms Rae was wakened by a thumping and went through to the living room to find the table in pieces.

McCudden told her: “The way I see it it's a £30 table. We can get another in the morning.”

When Ms Rae continued to remonstrate, McCudden attacked her.

She said: “He looked like a devil. I thought he was punching me then I realised he was holding a knife in each hand.”

The traumatised victim managed to stagger out of the house and knocked on a neighbour's house to ask for help. She was covered in blood from head to toe and collapsed on the eighth floor landing.

Police found McCudden sitting drunk on a sofa rambling about money.

Prosecutor Maryam Labaki said: “He told them her injuries were self-inflicted."

Judge Lady Scott deferred sentence on McCudden until next month.