A man who attacked his ex-lover's elderly parents with a chainsaw days after she left him has been jailed for 12 years.

James MacDonald, 48, burst into John and Flora MacPherson's home and threatened to kill their daughter Tracey.

He stood in their living room revving the chainsaw before suddenly turning it on terrified Mrs MacPherson then Mr MacPherson as he tried to save his wife.

Mr MacPherson, 74, almost had his whole arm cut off while Mrs MacPherson, 63, was also left badly injured.

MacDonald then fled the house in Fort William in the Highlands.

A judge heard how the couple said they loved one another as Mr MacPherson feared he was going to die.

He survived after a nine-hour operation to save his arm.

Last month, MacDonald pleaded guilty to attempted murder and also admitted assaulting Mrs MacPherson to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment, as well to the danger of her life.

MacDonald, who had been seeing Ms MacPherson for more than two years before she left him on July 14, returned to court for sentencing on Tuesday and was given a 12-year prison term.

Lord Boyd told MacDonald he had inflicted "horrific" injuries on his victim.

Passing sentence, he said: "This was a cruel and cowardly attack on an elderly couple who had done you no harm but had the misfortune of being the parents of the women who had recently been your partner.

"The injuries that you caused were truly horrific. In Mr MacPherson's case, it was only by the skill of the medical teams at Belford Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary that he survived.

"I note that he had to undergo a nine hour operation to reattach his right arm."

He continued: "The consequences, both physical and psychological, will be with both of Mr and Mrs MacPherson for the rest of their lives.

"In Mr MacPherson's case he will be left with functional deficits in both upper limbs and hands.

"So far as Tracey MacPherson is concerned she escaped physical injury but I have no doubt that the psychological injury will be particularly acute.

"The extent of the injury and suffering that you caused to all your victims is graphically recounted in their victim statements. I have read the criminal justice social work report."

The judge added: "I am prepared to accept Mr Robertson's submission that you are remorseful though I am bound to say that does not come across from the report. Indeed you appear to minimise your actions.

"This was a murderous attack on an innocent elderly couple leaving with them with life changing and lifelong injuries. It can only be marked by a lengthy custodial sentence."

Prosecutor Ross Macfarlane QC previously told the court: "He stated to her that he had 'put in' the door of her flat with a power saw. He told her repeatedly that he was going to kill her."

Ms MacPherson was so scared she asked her parents to lock all the doors at their home.

On the day of attacks, July 19, MacDonald was spotted with a chainsaw under his seat at a bar in Caol, Fort William. MacDonald then left the pub and stormed off to the MacPhersons' house.

The couple were watching TV around 8pm when the ground worker got in via a back door. Their daughter was meantime upstairs in one of the bedrooms.

Armed with the chainsaw, MacDonald turned it on and yelled: "Where is Tracey? I'm going to kill her tonight."

MacDonald kept revving the chainsaw before striking out at his former lover's mother.

Mrs MacPherson tried to turn away but was wounded after being hit on the arm. Her husband leaped out of his chair to rescue her.

The pensioner was left horrifically injured after MacDonald repeatedly lashed out at him.

Mr MacPherson, who had previously suffered a stroke, immediately slumped to the ground.

His wife screamed her daughter Tracey was not in before the attacker raced out with the chainsaw still revving. She dialled 999 and then went to help her blood-soaked husband.

Mr MacPherson was taken to a local hospital before being sent for treatment in Glasgow with an injury described as "catastrophic".

Mr Macfarlane told the court: "His right arm was partially amputated... almost severed just below the shoulder."

The pensioner, who also had a large wound from his jaw to his neck, went through a nine-hour operation to reattach his arm.

Medics confirmed had he not received help he would have died. The court heard he is permanently scarred and his injured arm is now shorter than the other.

The ordeal has left him suffering "flashbacks" and "nightmares". It is likely he will require more surgery in the future.

His wife needed around 12 stitches for wounds to her arm and hand. Mrs MacPherson is also scarred for life and has been seeing a counsellor due to the trauma of what happened.

MacDonald was caught by police at a nearby canal after the attacks.

He confessed: "I admit what I have done."

MacDonald, of Fort William, admitted other charges of behaving in a threatening manner and having an offensive weapon. None of the victims were in court on Monday.

Graham Robertson, defending, said the case for everyone involved was an "absolute and complete tragedy".