A JURY has unanimously convicted a Wigton man of attempting to murder a fellow pub goer by stabbing him in the face.

It took just 34 minutes for the Carlisle Crown Court jury to decide that Scott Topping, 39, did want to kill his victim, 21-year-old Robert Pattinson.

The defendant sat impassively in the dock as the verdict was announced.

Judge James Adkin told Topping he is facing a long sentence - possibly a discretionary life sentence.

After the verdict, the court heard that Topping, of Mulligan's Court, Wigton, had previously served a jail term for stabbing three people during a horrifying attack in 2005.

"So I will need to form an assessment of whether he represents a risk to the public of further serious offences", said the judge.

During Topping's three day trial, the jury heard how, after stabbing Mr Pattinson he had told the police officers sent to arrest him: “I hope he’s died because if he hasn’t – unlucky.”

The comment was recorded on body cameras worn by officers who were trying to persuade Topping to leave his home.

Topping carried out the attack on in King Street, Wigton, on the night of Friday, April 12, about an hour after he had tried - and failed - to punch Mr Pattinson.

The prosecution said Topping wanted to take revenge because Mr Pattinson - an amateur boxer - had punched him in self-defence.

Moments after shaking Mr Pattinson's hand outside the Throstle's Nest pub, the defendant delivered the knife blow with such force that the blade sank in to a depth of five inches, coming to rest to just millimetres from the victim's carotid artery.

Doctors said Mr Pattinson was lucky to survive. The prosecution say that Topping had aimed the knife at Mr Pattinson's throat, but missed because the victim was able to lean back at the last second.

Topping had earlier admitted intentionally causing his victim grievous bodily harm but he denied that he intended to murder him.

Before the trial got underway, Topping also admitted a common assault on Mr Pattinson's mother Lisa Dixon; using a knife to threaten her husband Neil Dixon, Mr Pattinson's stepfather; having an offensive weapon – a knife – in a public place; and affray.

After the verdict, Sergeant Harley Young paid tribute to Mr Pattinson and his family.

"Lisa Dixon has told me that she is pleased with the result of the case today, and feels that justice has been done," said the officer.

"This has been a shocking and horrific incident. I have known Robert Pattinson as a member of the Wigton community for 10 years.

"The level of bravery he has shown has been remarkable and exceptional, both in the way he dealt with what happened on the night and when he gave his evidence.

"He is a decent, upstanding member of the Wigton community, who was attacked in an horrific way.

"He could easily have died."

Topping will be sentenced on Friday, October 25, at Carlisle Crown Court.