A HOMESICK Scotsman who butchered a lone vagrant in a frenzied knife attack after his girlfriend rejected him is facing life behind bars.

Gary Findlay, 35, was found lying in a pool of blood near a taxi office in Byker, Newcastle, in the early hours of December 20, last year, with multiple stab wounds.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that one of the wounds severed his windpipe and caused massive internal and external bleeding.

James Mill, 26, wept in the dock and banged his head and fists when the jury found him guilty of murder yesterday.

Mill moved from Dundee to Tyneside in October last year to make a fresh start with girlfriend Jennifer Lynch.

But, after he started abusing alcohol and Butane gas, Miss Lynch moved back to Scotland, although the pair kept in touch by phone.

After hearing that she would not be coming back to England to celebrate Christmas he flew into a bitter rage.

Toby Hedworth, prosecuting, said Mill had been on an all-day drinking binge, downing lager and cider and sniffing gas when he repeatedly stabbed Mr Findlay to the head, face and neck.

Mill, of Sandy Crescent, Walker, Newcastle, was arrested wearing heavily blood-stained clothes but told police he could remember nothing.

He denied murder but was found guilty. Sentence was adjourned until October 12 for reports.

Judge David Hodson told Mill: "There is only one sentence this court can pass and that is one of life imprisonment."