A man who claimed he was sleepwalking when he attacked his wife with a knife has been found guilty of attempted murder.

John Docherty told a jury during his trial that he had no memory of attacking his wife Eileen at their home in Glasgow's Penilee in December 2009, but prosecutor Laura Thomson put to Docherty that he pounced after becoming "obsessed" at thinking she had been having an affair.

The 57-year-old taxi driver had denied a charge of attempted murder and lodged a special defence alleging he committed the attack "during the onset of somnambulism".

The jury earlier heard how Mrs Docherty was badly injured after finding her husband of 37 years standing at the side of their bed holding a knife. The 56-year-old mum-of-two claims Docherty - who has a history of sleepwalking - would not have "knowingly" attacked her, and she has stood by him during the trial.

Docherty accepted during the case that he believed his wife was being unfaithful in the weeks leading up to the attack on December 14, 2009. Prosecutor Miss Thomson said: "You were obsessed about the affair and jealous. You had consumed alcohol on the night in question. You sat at the table thinking about the affair nursing your anger and jealousy.

"You went upstairs with the knife and there you attacked your wife in a drunken and jealous rage." Docherty replied: "No."

Docherty had earlier told his QC, Murray Macara, that he had no memory of any attack. He denied there had been an argument or bad atmosphere between him and his wife.

The accused said he could recall Mrs Docherty going to bed and him remaining at the kitchen table after they had returned from a night out with friends. Docherty claimed he next remembered being on his hands and knees in their bedroom.

He told the jury: "Eileen was there in front of me on the carpet. I didn't know what I was doing on my hands and knees. I could see the blood and I then went to the phone."

The court earlier heard Docherty's 999 call, during which he claims he had a "mad fight" with his wife. Docherty claims there had been no row and said that must have been what was in his head at the time.

Mr Macara: "Are you saying that you have no recollection of attacking your wife?" Docherty replied: "None whatsoever."

The QC asked: "She suffered a number of injuries - you are not suggesting someone else did it?" The accused responded: "No." Mr Macara concluded: "You must have done this. You accept that?" Docherty answered: "Yes."