A MAN who stabbed a taxi driver and stole his jacket has been jailed for four years and eight months.

Ryan Luby, 21, had been drinking and taking painkillers when he carried out the attack as he got out of the taxi in Bruce Street, Paisley.

Defence advocate Tommy Ross revealed that after Luby sobered up, he wrote a letter to driver Mohammed Younis, 53, apologising for what he had done.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Dorrian told Luby his behaviour was disgraceful and only his guilty plea had saved him from a seven year sentence.

Luby, of Kilnside Road, Seedhill, Paisley, had previously admitted robbing Mr Younis and assaulting him to the danger of his life.

He claimed he could remember nothing between dozing off in the taxi and waking up in a nearby police station.

Mr Ross said Luby was determined to turn his back on drink and drugs and had immediately volunteered for detox sessions in prison.