TWO men hunted down a father-of-two before one of them stabbed him to death, a court has been told.

The High Court in ­Glasgow heard 18-year-old Connor Grana and Graeme Carter, 26, chased their victim Stephen McGowan on foot through the streets of Greenock.

And when he managed to jump in a taxi in a bid to escape they commandeered another cab and ordered the driver to follow him.

When Mr McGowan, 23, was dropped off at High Street, Greenock, at around 3am he began buzzing an entry system.

But Grana in the taxi behind leaped out in the cabbie's words "in a real hurry, Usain Bolt style".

Carter paid the taxi driver, and Inside the close Mr McGowan was stabbed three times by Grana.

Despite being fatally injured he managed to walk to his girlfriend's mother's house for help. But after knocking the door he collapsed and died.

Yesterday Grana, who is detained in Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, admitted murdering Mr McGowan on July 27.

His co-accused Carter, who is detained at Low Moss, admitted the culpable homicide of Mr McGowan.

Carter was originally charged with murder, but the Crown accepted his plea to the reduced charge. This was accepted on the basis that he was involved in the pursuit, but did not stab Mr McGowan.

Advocate depute Tim Niven-Smith said one of the stab wounds entered Mr McGowan's heart and another cut into a major blood vessel.

Judge Lord Bannatyne deferred sentence on both accused until January.