A KNIFE thug who murdered a pensioner by stabbing him twice in the back in an unprovoked attack was today jailed for life.
 
Twenty-five-year-old Peter Telfer was ordered to serve at least 21 years in prison for the brutal, unprovoked murder of 76-year-old John Baker.
 
John was killed by Telfer as he walked to his home in Glasgow's east end after a night out with a friend.
 
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the murder of John happened at the end of a crime spree through the streets of Glasgow by Telfer, who had been released on bail just days earlier.
 
Telfer's sick crimes, which included robbing two women at knifepoint, were captured on CCTV cameras.
 
Passing sentence judge Lord Matthews said: “Your appalling conduct was caught on CCTV and that chilling footage showed you engaged in the most cowardly of behaviour, targeting women and then stabbing Mr Baker in the back.
 
John's niece Carol Baker-Longshaw said: “Whilst we recognise it won't ever compensate for the loss of our gentle uncle John, we feel that justice has been served.
 
The court heard that shortly after the fatal stabbing dying John stood in the middle of the road and flagged down three council cleansing workers who were in a lorry.
 
John, who had been given the all clear from cancer just months earlier, died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary hospital from massive blood loss.
 
The attack took place around 12.25am on June 29 near Abercromby Street, Calton, Glasgow.
 
Defence counsel Thomas Ross told the court Telfer had a “miserable childhood” and “difficulties as a result of maternal shortcomings” resulting in him growing up in care homes.