A WEDDING guest at a posh Lake District hotel was repeatedly stabbed in the head by a man armed with a fork.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that hospital porter Edward Leighton, 61, launched the attack - which left his victim with puncture wounds, covered in blood and with severe hearing loss - because he wrongly believed his victim had attacked his wife.

Leighton, of Mardale Road, Raffles, Carlisle, was jailed for ten months.

The court heard that victim Alan Hodgson was at the wedding with his wife and two daughters on November 17, 2018.

In the first part of the day, the atmosphere was "jovial" and everybody was in good spirits, said Mr Hodgson.

But at 7.30pm, a coach party of guests arrived, many already intoxicated, the court heard.

Mr Hodgson took his children upstairs to the family's room because the atmosphere had become "a little rowdy."

But the family went back downstairs to the hotel's Lime Tree Suite for the evening wedding buffet.

While there, an altercation erupted in the buffet queue, during which a man aggressively yelled at Mr Hodgson's partner, telling her to "eat the meat."

She was then punched to the ground by a woman.

It was as Mr Hodgson was trying to remove the defendant's wife from the altercation that Edward Leighton rushed over, mistakenly believing his wife was being attacked. Leighton put Mr Hodgson in a headlock and stabbed him multiple times with the fork he was holding.

Prosecutor David Bentley told the court: "The impact was significant...[the victim's] hands were covered in blood; his clothes were covered in blood. He said he had never seen so much blood. He grabbed a tablecloth and pressed it against the side of his head to suppress the flow of blood."

He suffered multiple cuts.

The chief bridesmaid tried to reassure him but Mr Hodgson suffered serious injuries which had lasting effects, the court heard.

He lost feeling in the left side of his face and sustained 40 per cent hearing loss in one ear.

Unable to sleep, he became increasingly anxious and depressed and had to sell the Stage Effects business which was his life for 13 years, said Mr Bentley.

He had been in constant pain for two years and has been told he will be in pain for the rest of his life.

Paul Tweddle, for Leighton, who admitted unlawful wounding, emphasised the defendant's basis of plea: that he mistakenly but genuinely believed he was defending his wife.

A hospital porter, who was well thought of by colleagues, he was a man of previous good character.

His offence arose out of "unique circumstances", said Mr Tweddle.

The lawyer added: "He has expressed remorse for his actions and it appears to be genuine.

"It was an isolated incident and he is never likely to do this again."

The victim hoped to be compensated to the tune of £17,450 - for the destruction of his bloodstained clothing and his loss of earnings.

As well as jailing Leighton, Recorder Neville Biddle ruled that he must pay his victim £4,000 compensation.