A POOLE man who slashed a teenager's face with a Stanley knife has a past history of violent crime, a jury was told on October 21.

Tony Wilkinson, 24, left his 17-year-old victim scarred for life after getting involved in an argument outside the Brasshouse pub in Westover Road, Bournemouth.

Wilkinson, of Merrow Avenue, will be sentenced for the "vicious and brutal act" next month.

But Nigel Mitchell, prosecuting, told Bournemouth Crown Court he had committed a string of violent crimes in the past ten years, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, possessing an offensive weapon and affray.

Wilkinson said he borrowed the knife as he was in the process of decorating his partner's house but pulled it out of his pocket after he became embroiled in a petty argument between a 15-year-old girl and three teenage boys, none of whom can be named for legal reasons.

He told the court he was "deeply sorry" for the injuries he had inflicted on the Bournemouth teenager on May 29 and insisted he never intended to cause him serious harm.

But the jury took less than two hours to convict him of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

They heard he approached the group aggressively and after slashing the teenager, continued to threaten the other teenage boys.

Summing up the case, Mr Mitchell said: "This was a vicious and brutal attack by this defendant on somebody who was trying to keep the peace that afternoon.

"For his trouble, he is now scarred for life.

"If you take a Stanley knife to somebody's face, you must intend to cause serious harm."

First published: October 22