UPDATE: Knife attacker jailed for monastery violence that left victim with horrendous injuries

Michael Hodkinson, of Brynn Street, St Helens, was jailed for 12 years with four years on licence for stabbing the man at the former Carmelite Convent in Eccleston.

Hodkinson had pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. 

He stabbed Ryan McPaul, six times and slashed him across the left side of his face with a large knife at the premises on Green Lane, Eccleston in October last year.

The victim, who was present in court with the 15cm scar visible on his face, also suffered wounds his back and arm.

The knife used in the attack

Welcoming Hodkinson's sentence, Detective Constable Phil Poynton said: “This was a nasty attack which left the victim with injuries to his face and back requiring surgery.

“We are pleased that this dangerous man has been removed from the streets of St Helens for the foreseeable future, and I would encourage anyone with information on knife crime to contact us, so we can take immediate and positive action to protect our communities."

DC Poynton added: “Merseyside Police is committed to protecting our communities from the criminal minority who choose to carry knives.

“It is never acceptable for someone to carry a knife and the consequences that can result from people choosing to carry them can be devastating.”

The incident had taken place at Mr McPaul's flat after the pair, who were previously unknown to each other, and three others had been drinking at the Wheatsheaf pub in St Helens town centre.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the group had taken cocaine in the toilets of the pub before leaving in the early hours of Friday, October 28.

They continued the "cocktail of drugs and alcohol" at the flat.

Hodkinson, who had reportedly been bragging about his previous convictions, started to use a knife to "rig" a phone charger before becoming "aggravated" and accusing the group of taking his cocaine.

Mr Robert Jones, prosecuting said: “He then asked them to take off their trousers so he could search them and Mr McPaul refused, saying he had nothing.

“Hodkinson then said to one of the group that if he doesn’t do it I will slice his (expletive) face off.”

Mr McPaul then attempted to disarm Hodkinson, which resulted in a scuffle where he was stabbed four times in the back, once on his shoulder, once on his right arm and on the face.

Mr Roberts added: “He has been left him with life altering injuries, the injury to his right arm severed a tendon and an artery and one to his back narrowly missed puncturing his kidney.

“Mr McPaul then ran into the corridor, leaving a trail of blood before getting out of the building for help and knocking on the window of a home belonging to Mr and Mrs Rotheram.”

The couple then attended to the severely injured man who had a "disfigured bloody face".

He told them he was "scared he was going to die" and called for an ambulance.

Sentencing Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: “I can see the devastating impact that this has had on the complainant emotionally and psychologically.

“The facial injury in particular was horrendous and due to his arm injury, he has not been able to return to work and there is obviously a continuing cosmetic impact as well as him having recurring nightmares.

“This a sustained assault and quite deliberate and happened when you (Hodkinson) were subject to a cocktail of cocaine and alcohol and it has left an ongoing effect on the complainant.

“To cap it all off it was a mere three days after you appeared in court on a separate matter where you had been put on conditional discharge, so I am quite certain that you pose as a dangerous person.”

Michael Hagerty defending, added: “The defendant is full of remorse in this case and he is ashamed.

“He doesn’t want me to bring up his past but he has been brought up in difficult circumstances involving domestic violence of his mum by her partner and he is not in contact with his father.”

Hodkinson had two previous convictions including possession with intent to supply and criminal damage.