A MAN has been jailed for life for murdering his friend's father in a drink-fuelled knife attack.

Sean Crombie, 21, attacked Ian Rankin, 46, with a baton, crutch and kitchen knife, inflicting 36 stab wounds to his neck, head and chest, during the frenzied assault at his victim's Clydebank flat in December last year.

The court heard the attack had taken place after Crombie had fallen out with his girlfriend. He had been invited in for a drink by Mr Rankin, who was the father of a friend.

Yesterday at the High Court in Aberdeen, Judge Lord Burns sentenced Crombie to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years and six months.

Lord Burns described the killing as "an appalling loss for Mr Rankin's family" and said the use of weapons, especially knives, would "not be tolerated".

Crombie had previously admitted murdering Mr Rankin on December 29 last year. Brian McConnachie QC, mitigating, said his client had "issues" with alcohol abuse.