A knife thug who tried to kill his lawyer in his office in a horror murder bid has been jailed for 11 years.

Esaya Neguse attacked Muhammad Shoaib leaving the 71-year-old fearing he was going to die.

Two colleagues bravely tackled the 37-year-old before passing police caught sight of the struggle at MS Solicitors in Glasgow's Southside on September 21 2022.

(Image: Esaya Neguse attacked Muhammad Shoaib leaving the 71 year-old fearing he was going to die.)

(Image: Muhammad Shoaib)

Mr Shoaib - a former Alba party council election candidate - fortunately survived having been stabbed in the chest.

Neguse initially stood trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of attempted murder.

But, after Mr Shoaib testified reliving his ordeal to jurors, Neguse pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.

(Image: Esaya Neguse attacked Muhammad Shoaib leaving the 71 year-old fearing he was going to die.)

It emerged Neguse had only been on the streets at the time having been freed early from a previous 12-month jail-term. He had a total of 11 previous convictions.

Lord Colbeck told Neguse: "You attempted to murder a solicitor representing your interests.

"You did so using a weapon that you were carrying for that purpose.

"I take into account a degree of planning was involved.

"On your account, you went with the intention of assaulting him.

"In my assessment, these factors are redolent of a high degree of culpability."

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(Image: Victoria Road crime scene)

The court previously heard how the lawyer was at work that afternoon when Neguse turned up unannounced at the office in the city's Victoria Road.

Mr Shoaib still agreed to see him. Neguse followed him into his room.

The victim expected Neguse to take a seat, but instead he stood next to him and stated: "Muhammad, are you ok?".

The assailant then whipped out a kitchen knife from his pocket.

Mr Shoaib told jurors: "He started attacking towards my neck, then for a second time on my chest. I had to put my hand out to stop him."

The solicitor recalled Neguse mumbling something.

The victim added: "The blood was coming out my chest. It was like a shower of blood."

Mr Shoaib desperately screamed on his colleagues - fellow lawyer Muhammed Ibrahim and legal secretary Amin Syed - for help.

They got Neguse out of the room as he still clung onto the knife.

The victim meantime managed to dial 999.

Mr Shoaib said: "I thought I was going to die. The whole floor was filled up with my blood. I was panicking."

CCTV footage showed Mr Ibrahim and My Syed - who were headbutted and bit by Neguse - deciding to drag the attacker out onto the street to attract the attention of police stopped at traffic lights.

The men yelled: "He has got a knife and he has stabbed him."

Neguse eventually let go of the weapon which had a blade of up to six-inches.

The court heard Mr Shoaib suffered a stab wound to his chest.

He was able to leave hospital after treatment.

Neguse - from Eritrea in East Africa - also pleaded guilty in June to five other charges.

These were assaulting Mr Shoaib's colleagues, having a knife in a public place, behaving in a threatening manner and spitting on a police officer.

The hearing was told Neguse had changed his plea to guilty after viewing the CCTV of the incident during the trial.

Herbert Kerrigan KC, defending, added: "He expressed to me very clearly remorse for what he had done."

The defence advocate had originally travelled to the UK for "sanctuary...looking forward to his life" with his wife and child, but they both tragically drowned.

Mr Kerrigan also explained Neguse had previously suffered from mental health issues.

Lord Colbeck ordered Neguse be supervised for a further five years on his release.

He was further made subject of a non-harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting Mr Shoaib as well going near any office of MS Solicitors.

After the stabbing of Mr Shoaib, former First Minister and Alba Party leader Alex Salmond said at the time he was "deeply upset with the news of the attack".

Mr Shoaib had previously stood in the 2022 council elections as the Alba candidate for the city's Pollokshields ward.

The 12 month sentence Neguse was freed early from related to him being threatening and abusive towards police in January 2021.

This included him shouting, swearing, spitting and trying to flee from officers.

He also headbutted the window of the police vehicle.

Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was a shocking attack on a lawyer who was going about his everyday business working for the benefit of his clients. 

“Had it not been for the brave intervention of his colleagues, this attack could have had tragic repercussions. And it is only right that we acknowledge their heroic actions. 

“Esayas Neguse has been convicted and sentenced for a terrible crime and will now spend a lengthy time in prison as a result of his criminal behaviour.” 

Detective Inspector Phill Kennedy, of Cathcart CID, said: “This was a horrific attack which took place at the victim’s place of work.

“No one should be the subject of such violence at their workplace and I would commend the actions of other staff members prior to police arriving.

“They put their own safety at risk to intervene and prevent further injury to their colleague.

“Their bravery stands in stark contrast to the cowardly and violent actions of Esayas Neguse, who will rightly now face the consequences.”