One of the victims was attacked on Paisley's High Street

Grant McCartney, 36, admitted assaulting the men in Paisley and Renfrew on 26 January, 2005.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord McEwan ruled McCartney should be held at the State Hospital at Carstairs under a restriction order.

His case will have to be referred to Scottish ministers before he can be discharged.

A psychiatrist told the court: "Given the gravity of the matters that have brought us here, he is likely to spend quite some considerable period of time in the state hospital."

McCartney pled guilty to assaulting four men to their severe injury, permanent disfigurement and the danger of their lives.

McCARTNEY'S VICTIMS Francis Hanratty, 29 Kevin Morning, 38 David Caldwell, 55 James Porter, 44 John Thomas, 43 Richard Jennings, 26

A fifth man was assaulted to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement and a sixth to his injury.

The first attack happened at 1600 GMT when McCartney stabbed new father Francis Hanratty, 29, three times in the leg and once to his chest. Mr Hanratty was attacked in Pine Street, Paisley, and will be permanently scarred.

Within minutes he stabbed Kevin Morning, 38, in the back in the town's Central Way. Mr Morning had wounds to his shoulder and lower back and was said to be shattered.

McCartney's third victim, David Caldwell, 55, was stabbed twice in the stomach in Paisley's High Street.

The fourth victim, James Porter, 44, was stabbed in the back in Marjory Drive when he got off a bus.

Pub toilets

McCartney targeted his next victim in Fulbar Lane, Renfrew. John Thomas, 43, was cut as he fended off the knife attack.

The final victim, Richard Jennings, 26, was stabbed twice at about 2115 BST in the toilets of the Kind Man's pub in Hairst Street, Renfrew.

An incident room was set up by police in Paisley following the incidents.