A ‘DESPICABLE’ former church worshipper has been jailed after viciously attacking his ex pal with a meat cleaver during a row – and then wiping off the blood on his victim’s clothes.

Alexander O’Rourke, 46, carried out the brutal and sustained attack at a property on Bellsmyre’s Whiteford Avenue on August 2 this year – after confronting the victim about perceived “rumours” that had been spread about him.

O’Rourke, whose address in court was given as prisoner of Greenock, appeared from custody on indictment at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, September 26 for sentencing.

He previously admitted assaulting his victim by repeatedly hitting him on the head and body with the weapon, to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

At the previous hearing, the court was told how the pair began arguing before O’Rourke chased the victim into a bedroom and cornered him, hitting his victim on the face and head during a horrific two minute onslaught.

He then sat on a bed and wiped the blood off on his victim’s shorts before issuing a chilling warning “not to involve police”.

However, after O’Rourke left, the victim called police, who arrived to find blood on walls, the floor and furniture.

An officer later caught O’Rourke, who told arresting officers: “It’s me you’re looking for.”

Officers later searched the accused’s home and found a meat cleaver.

A washing machine was also on but it was stopped halfway through its cycle with clothing inside taken for forensic analysis which linked it to the victim.

The victim sustained gashes on his scalp, nose and arms – some of which required stitches.

When the case recalled last week, O’Rourke’s solicitor said the author of the psychiatric report concluded he was not suffering from any mental health disorder but had suffered from “anxiety issues”.

The defence agent continued: “He has an unenviable schedule of convictions.

“It’s down to a long standing drug problem.

“He did not have the best upbringing and was subject to, from a very young age, time in educational establishments.”

It was also revealed how O’Rourke was a church-goer who found it a “stable influence” but formed that view that people were “judging him”, so stopped attending.

The solicitor added: “His mental health went down, although he went to a local addiction team and was addressing those issues.

“He was on anti depressive medication and anti psychotic medication in the months leading up to incident- but then became involved in a three to four-day drinking binge.

“He’s deeply regretful about his conduct and remorseful.

“He wants to write a letter to the complainer to apologise but I’ve advised him that it’s not the best idea.

“He fully appreciates that he will be sent to custody, no doubt for a significant period.”

In sentencing Sheriff William Gallacher told O’Rourke: “You were in possession of a very serious and dangerous weapon and caused significant violence – simply because you heard that this person said something about you.

“It was a despicable act and, at the end, you threatened him not to contact police, returned home, cleaned the weapon – and your clothes.

“You knew what you were doing.”

O’Rourke was sentenced to 32 months in prison, backdated to August 4.

He will also be placed under supervision for 12 months after his release.