A WORKINGTON dog walker was left with appalling facial injuries after being subjected to two unprovoked attacks by the same man in the space of a few days.

Victim Michael Howley was knocked out as he walked his dog in the town’s Vulcan Park on October 31 last year.

The thug responsible ­— 25-year-old Ainsley Murdoch ­— knocked him out again two days later, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

It later emerged that the defendant was carrying a kitchen knife.

During the November 2 attack, Murdoch subjected Mr Howley to “a barrage” of blows after knocking him to the ground in a assault lasting three minutes.

The defendant, of Derwent Street,Workington, admitted two assaults causing actual bodily harm on Mr Howley and a further assault causing actual bodily harm on his half-brother, as well as illegally carrying a knife.

Nick Cockrell, prosecuting, said the violence began on October 26 while Murdoch was at home watching TV with his half-brother. “Gaij Murdoch was concerned about his brother’s behaviour because of some comments he was making,” said the lawyer.

Earlier, the family were so concerned about Murdoch’s mental health that they contacted a community crisis team.

Suddenly, the defendant grabbed his brother and began punching him. As the brother tried to get the defendant out of the house, Murdoch hit him with a hairbrush so forcefully that the handle broke.

Two days later, at 1pm, at Vulcan Park, Murdoch attacked Mr Howley. “Mr Howley said that suddenly everything went blank,” said Mr Cockrell, describing the moment the victim was knocked out.

On November 2, at 12.20pm, Murdoch again attacked Mr Howley as he walked his dog, leaving him with a broken nose, black eye and extensive bruising. Murdoch said he had carried the knife for about a month “for his own protection.”

Of Mr Howley, Mr Cockrell said: “He’s become nervous about walking his dog to the shops... he’s fearful of being assaulted again. He’s suffered from headaches since the assault and he’s extremely anxious when he goes out.”

Gaij Murdoch said what happened had a big impact and that it was clear his brother needed help.

Jailing Murdoch for two years, Judge Nicholas Barker accepted that there was a question-mark over his mental health.

“These are disturbing assaults because they’re assaults on an individual with no lead up, no foundation and no motive,” said the judge. “They are ­— for want of a better phrase ­— wholly unexplained.

“You approached him, punched him to the ground. He was subjected to a barrage of punches and kicks extending to around three minutes.

“He received significant injuries ­— a broken nose, bruising to his face which needed to be glued; and he had loose teeth.

“The photographs show a man whose face was covered in blood.” The judge banned Murdoch from contacting his brother for three years and Mr Howley for five years.