Knife attacker faces jail

A DRUNK slashed a man's face and now faces jail.

A DRUNK slashed a man's face and now faces jail.

Shaun Ellis was found guilty by an Ipswich Crown Court jury of wounding Nicholas Tiller with intent to do him serious harm.

Ellis had drunk several pints of lager and taken a number of ecstasy tablets before cutting a 15 centimetre gash in Mr Tiller's face with a 10 inch kitchen knife.

Ellis, 42, of The walk, Felixstowe, had admitted unlawful wounding but denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent because he said he was in no fit state to form an intention.

The jury heard that on August 10 last year Ellis had been drinking in a Felixstowe pub when his friend Mr Tiller sent him a text message accusing him of having a sexual relationship with his girlfriend and warned him to “sleep with an eye open”.

Ellis went to Mr Tiller's Lincoln Terrace home, picked up a knife, woke Mr Tiller and cut him.

Ellis told the jury “I'm not a dangerous person”.

However, after its unanimous verdict the jury was informed of Ellis' previous criminal record which included manslaughter in 1983 when he fractured an 18-year-old's skull with a scaffold pole. Other offences included wounding with intent, assault police, threatening behaviour, carrying an offensive weapon, causing actual bodily harm, burglary and driving with excess alcohol.

In July last year Ellis was conditionally discharged for 12 months for disorderly behaviour but the offence of wounding with intent breached that order.

Matthew Edwards, mitigating, asked for a pre-sentence report. He also urged Judge John Devaux to release his client on bail so he could continue a voluntary programme to address his alcohol and substance abuse.

He said: “To be on bail would allow him to draw a line under the voluntary programme before the inevitable custodial sentence.”

Judge Devaux refused bail and remanded Ellis in custody until the week beginning March 2 when he is to be sentenced.