A HEYSHAM man who attacked a serving soldier in Morecambe with a knife has been jailed for 18 months.

Preston Crown Court was told that the unprovoked attack was captured on CCTV.

Derrick Cook, 28, of Threshfield Avenue, pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding Mr John Brindle who was out with his girlfriend in the resort.

Jailing Cook, Judge Ronald Livesey QC told him: "This was a totally unprovoked attack with a knife. You were drunk at the time.

"Although the wounds you inflicted were not severe, I have seen the video and this makes it perfectly clear that the defendant was the aggressor throughout."

Mr Nicholas Kennedy, prosecuting, told the court around midnight on September 5 last year Mr Brindle, serving with the Royal Engineers, was with his girlfriend in Morecambe on the Promenade walking towards the town centre. Cook was there with a family friend and was drunk. Words of an unpleasant nature were passed to Mr Brindle and his girlfriend and Cook started pushing the woman. Mr Brindle stepped in between Cook and his girlfriend and Cook lashed out with his fist. The defendant pulled out a knife from his back pocket and moved towards Mr Brindle making slashing actions.

Mr Brindle punched Cook and forced him to drop the knife which was kicked away by a passer-by. The lock knife was found a few days later with blood on it.

Mr Kennedy said Mr Brindle sustained minor shoulder wounds and a biting injury to his hand.

Miss Sharon Watson, defending, said a friend of Cook's had just died in custody and he was upset. The girlfriend of the soldier had mentioned that.

Cook was thoroughly ashamed of himself and the victim - a trained soldier - had been capable of protecting himself.

She said Cook was unconscious for a time and had been left with a permanent scar on his nose. Cook, a shopworker, had taken steps to address his alcohol problem and custody would cost him his job and home.

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