Greig Stevenson, aged 30, said he attacked Fraser Reid, Andrew Smith and Stuart Martin with a knife outside the Home Arms Hotel because he thought the friend he was staying with was in danger.

Jailing Stevenson for five years and four months, temporary judge John Morris QC said: "They are very serious offences, all three of your victims could have died."

Stevenson admitted the attack on the three men and attempting to stab Daniel Wood during the incident on Eyemouth High Street on August 24, last year.

Fraser Reid and Andrew Smith had travelled from the Chirnside area with Daniel Henry, for a night out in Eyemouth but a fight broke out after a drink was spilt on Mr Henry by Stevenson's friend Billy Kane.

Mr Kane and Mr Henry went outside to fight because it was thought that Mr Kane had deliberately spilt the drink on Mr Henry.

A large group followed and in the brawl that ensued, Stevenson stabbed Fraser Reid on his left side before running away.

At one point Daniel Henry was fighting three people including Stevenson, and when Andrew Smith waded in to help Mr Henry he was also stabbed by Stevenson.

Stuart Martin had been standing outside the pub smoking when the brawl started and he went across to pull one of his friends away but was stabbed on the lower back.

When Stevenson's jacket underwent forensic examination blood stains found on it matched Mr Martin.

All three victims have been left with scars and are now wary of going out.

Defence advocate, Tom Ross, told the court that Stevenson of 23 Acre Drive, Maryhill, Glasgow, had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol and arrived in an intoxicated state.

"He formed the view that Mr Kane was in danger and behaved in the way described, clearly his actions were excessive.

"He acted entirely out of character and bitterly regrets his actions."

Mr Ross added that Stevenson, whose hopes of becoming a professional footballer when he left school were thwarted by injury, planned to write letters of apology to his victims.