Man jailed for knife murder outside nightclub

Brandon McLachlan was jailed for a minimum of 18-and-a-half years

A man who stabbed a father to death while on bail for an assault involving a knife has been jailed for murder.

Brandon McLachlan attacked Jamie Lucas, 33, as he left a nightclub with his girlfriend in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, just before Christmas in 2024.

The 22-year-old was subject to two bail orders at the time of the attack, including one for the alleged serious assault of a man in the town months earlier, also said to involve a knife.

That charge ended up forming part of the murder case and a not guilty plea was accepted for that accusation, however McLachlan was jailed for a minimum of 18-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to murdering Mr Lucas at the High Court in Glasgow.

Mr Lucas was taken to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the incident outside Diamonds nightclub on Stirling Street in Airdrie on 22 December last year.

McLachlan stabbed him four times, including in the heart, hours after the men had been involved in an argument.

Jamie Lucas was killed in the attack outside the nightclub in Airdrie last year

The court heard McLachlan had been removed from the nightclub for his behaviour.

He was standing outside when Mr Lucas and his partner went outside to have a cigarette.

The court heard there was a "verbal exchange" between the men, which became physical for a short time, leading to McLachlan's tooth being chipped.

Mr Lucas and his girlfriend went back inside, but McLachlan was captured on CCTV making various threatening comments.

During this time, he repeatedly threatened to return home and "get a knife".

Mr Lucas and his girlfriend left the nightclub at about 02:30, however McLachlan was waiting for them across the road.

Nightclub security staff responded quickly after a struggle took place between the two men, but Mr Lucas had already been stabbed by the time they got to the incident.

CCTV footage showed his girlfriend attempting to stem bleeding with her jacket.

Mr Lucas was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but was pronounced dead a short time later.

McLachlan fled the scene to another nightclub before also being told to leave there.

He was eventually arrested near his home having tried to run off from police.

'Plotted revenge'

The court heard he was subject to two bail orders at the time of the attack and had 10 previous convictions for violence and housebreaking.

His lawyer said McLachlan had been "drinking to excess" that evening and has "regretted everything" about the evening after he sobered up.

Judge Lord Young told McLachlan he had "plotted revenge" on Mr Lucas.

He said he had read emotional victim impact statements from Mr Lucas' grieving relatives describing how "harrowing" the death had been for them.

He cut the minimum jail term from 21 years due to the guilty plea.