A MAN knocked a fellow Honister Slate Mine employee unconscious during a vicious metal pole attack.

Attila Vicsics, 50, lost his temper and turned violent as other shocked staff members watched during a shift at the site in the Borrowdale Valley, near Keswick.

Carlisle Crown Court yesterday heard how there had been no issues between Hungarian national Vicsics and long-serving Graeme Robson before March 7, 2018.

Prosecutor Charles Brown told how Vicsics was initially angered after a co-owner at the attraction spoke to him and another man as they talked.

Vicsics threw a stool at a wall near his work station. And, when tackled about behaviour which disturbed colleagues, he became angry and picked up a metal pole measuring 3ft to 4ft.

As he held this at chest height in a threatening manner, Mr Robson turned away.

“While his back was turned,” said Mr Brown, “he struck Mr Robson with what is described as a very forceful blow on the back of his head.

“This was with such force that it knocked Mr Robson off his feet and he was described as being unconscious for some 15 to 20 seconds.”

Mr Robson suffered significant swelling to his head and still had a loss of sensation. He was also left with sight reduction in one eye.

“He describes having been left shocked and shaken,” added Mr Brown, “never having encountered such violence in the workplace.

"He describes himself as feeling incredibly nervous and anxious when he doesn’t know who is behind him.”

Vicsics, previously of Cockermouth but no longer a UK resident, admitted actual bodily harm assault.

He was arrested having been “at large, prior to the execution of a warrant”.

Sean Harkin, defending, said Vicsics was “very sorry”, adding: “He lost his job as a result of it.

"He simply wants to serve his time and resume his life that is hitherto free from criminal offending.”

Jailing Vicsics for 12 months, Judge Nicholas Barker said: “This is a serious attack. It could have been far worse.”