A thug is facing a long jail sentence after he attacked his flatmate with a meat cleaver while preparing spaghetti bolognese for dinner.

Peter McKay had claimed he was he was intoxicated from excessive drinking and taking sedatives which led to a state of “automatism”.

But it was rejected by a jury and he was convicted of wounding Leslie Bidgood with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. He had admitted unlawful wounding.

Sentence was adjourned until after April 27 to assess dangerousness after the unanimous verdict by the jury of eight women and four men.

Prosecutor Mark Mullins said the victim suffered about four cuts, one of which could have proved fatal if it had been closer to the jugular vein.

Refusing a psychiatric report and remanding McKay in custody, Judge Martin Joy said: “The very nature of this attack is such that the defendant was very fortunate not to be charged with attempted murder.

“It is also very fortunate that the victim was not, in fact, killed.”

"It must have been a terrifying shock and ordeal. In fact, the victim was incredibly lucky the attack was not fatal..." - Det Con Mark Silk

McKay “growled” as he ran amok with the cleaver while chopping up ingredients for the Italian meal at his home in Minster Road, Minster, on September 18 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the two men were good friends and had spent the day together.

McKay, 35, and Mr Bidgood downed about two half bottles of vodka each with Red Bull. McKay was also taking zopiclone.

Mr Mullins said McKay came out of the kitchen holding the “small to medium” cleaver and approached Mr Bidgood, who was sitting down on a sofa watching television.

He started striking the victim around the neck and head as he stood up, leaving him covered in blood.

Startled Mr Bidgood protested: “We are mates. We are both on the same side.’ But the onslaught continued as McKay kept growling.

Mr Bidgood could remember nothing else until he came to in hospital with cuts to his neck, behind his left ear and above his left eye, needing stitches.

Mr Mullins said it was not a case of someone suddenly losing their inhibitions and not knowing what he was doing.

James Ross, defending, said: “The jury’s verdict is that he was fully conscious when he attacked his friend. This is an inexplicable motiveless attack.”

After the hearing, Detective Constable Mark Silk said: "There is no doubt a substantial amount of alcohol, combined with a number of sedative pills proved to be a potent cocktail and played a part in McKay’s state of mind that night.

"However, that should in no way be used as an excuse. He was fully conscious and had in his possession a lethal weapon and using it meant he fully intended to cause harm.

"It must have been a terrifying shock and ordeal to have seen someone change in that way and see them attacking you. In fact, the victim was incredibly lucky the attack was not fatal."

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