A WEST Cumbrian man was subjected to a “frenzied” knife attack by his nephew after the two had enjoyed a relaxed evening drinking together and then sparring with boxing gloves.

Andrew Robinson, 26, launched the attack during a visit to the home of his uncle Dean Robinson in Ellenborough Place, Maryport, on September 4, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The victim suffered a serious face wound.

Despite this, he did not want his nephew prosecuted.

Andrew Robinson, whose address was given as Rockingham Avenue, York, admitted an assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

He was jailed for 22 months.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said the defendant arranged to visit his uncle and arrived there with a female friend, the two arriving at his house at 7pm.

“Everything was amicable between the parties to begin with,” said the prosecutor.

“Mr Robinson the victim was drinking lager and gin and Mr Robinson the defendant was drinking vodka and gin.

"They got some food and returned to the property.

“Then the uncle and his nephew began to reminisce about their prison days and that led to a discussion about boxing – whereupon the victim produced a pair of boxing gloves and the two men began what he described as sparring. They went outside to do this.”

The uncle took a break to use the bathroom, but when he returned he was subjected to a “frenzied attack,” said Mr Rogerson.

“Andrew Robinson came at him, with both fists clenched but in his right hand he held a knife.”

Dean Robinson told his nephew: “Andrew, I’m your uncle; what are you doing?”

Mr Rogerson said: “That didn’t calm the defendant down.

“He continued stabbing and slashing at his uncle.

"One of those blows connected with the uncle’s face, leaving a laceration which the victim didn’t notice in the heat of the moment.

“He subsequently became aware of it because it bled very heavily after the incident.”

The woman who had gone to the house with the defendant also tried to calm him, taking the knife from him and returning it to the kitchen.

But he picked up the knife again.

The terrifying attack came to an end after the uncle retreated to the bathroom and held the door closed with his foot.

Eventually, the defendant left the property but he was picked up by police at Junction 40 of the M6 as he was making his way back to York.

He became compliant, said Mr Rogerson, only after he had been ‘red dotted’ with a police taser device.

After the attack the victim said the violence had come “totally out of the blue”. He had been shocked and upset to have been attacked by his nephew with a knife.

Julian Goode, defending, said that there was no issue within the family as a result of what happened.

Asked by Judge Andrew Jefferies QC why the defendant used the knife, the barrister said: “There had been consensual boxing and sparring, drink had been consumed but I can’t go any further than that.

“He is deeply ashamed of the way he acted.”

The lawyer said the defendant had said he is suffering from post traumatic stress – the result of having seen his mother suffer a serious assault when he was young and seeing a friend seriously injured in a stabbing.

Yet while he has been in custody, Robinson had been offered nothing more than a booklet to help him.

“He’s keen to seek assistance,” said Mr Goode.

The lawyer went on to describe how the defendant’s uncle had sought to play down what happened, describing it as “just a silly thing”. He said that no family member wanted the defendant to be prosecuted; and his grandmother had described the legal process as being like a bereavement.

“But they wish to continue the family relationship,” added Mr Goode.

Passing sentence, Judge Jefferies said he could not understand why Robinson had attacked his uncle.

“I don’t think drink answers that question,” said the judge.