Notorious prison rioter jailed over bid to murder neighbour
Sammy Ralston has been jailed for eight years
- Published
An infamous former prison rioter has been jailed for eight years for trying to kill a neighbour.
Sammy Ralston, known as "the Bear", stabbed Stewart Anderson at a flat in Glasgow's Shettleston area on 29 October 2022.
The 61 year-old was the ringleader of a six-day siege and riot at the former Peterhead jail in 1987 which saw prison guards held hostage.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge John McCormick said it was " fortuitous that Mr Anderson’s life was not directly put at risk" after the attack.
Ralston had denied the murder bid charge but was previously convicted of repeatedly striking his neighbour on the head and body with a knife.
As well as the jail-term, Judge McCormick ordered Ralston be supervised for a further two years on his release.
Ralston was a convicted armed robber who also took part in a similar riot in HMP Barlinnie.
The Peterhead riot lasted for six days
A number of associates - including reformed underworld figure Ian "Blink" MacDonald and Joe Steele - one of the men wrongly jailed for the Glasgow Ice Cream Wars murders in 1984 - were in court to support him.
The judge told Ralston: " Due to the gravity of the offences and prior criminal record, I will ensure the public are protected from serious harm when you are released."
Donald Findlay KC, defending, said Ralston continued to protest his innocence.
The advocate told Judge McCormick: "You are aware Mr Ralston has a record. He has had a lifestyle over a number of years.
"For a period of time of about 11 years he had not really come to the attention of the authorities.
"I have known Mr Ralston for a number of years and it frightens me to see him back in court at this stage of his life.
"He and I have had the odd frank conversation since I became involved in this case."
He added: "I have done my best in that regard to indicate that it is each of our hopes that we don't meet each other in these circumstances.”
The Peterhead riot in 1987 ended when an elite SAS force stormed the building.