A TAKEAWAY owner from Ulverston thought he was “fighting for his life” when his former chef bundled a Santa sack over his head and launched a vicious attack on him in the dark rear yard of the premises. 

Kevin Robinson, 35, is starting a 14 month jail sentence for the attack on his employer of eight years, Christoff Alexandrou, 68. 

The court heard Robinson and his wife Nicola were employed at the Lakeland Continental Takeaway along with a number of other women. 

But when Mrs Robinson and two other women fell out with another employee they asked Mr Alexandrou to fire the woman. 

When Mr Alexandrou refused, saying the woman had not done anything wrong, Kevin Richardson stormed out of the job, and Mr Alexandrou received three letters of complaint from the former chef, his wife and a friend, setting out a case for constructive dismissal. 

Mr Alexandrou responded by telling them they were still employed by him and asking them to return to work. 

But on November 13 last year, Robinson lay in wait at the back of the shop to take his revenge on his former employer. 

When the takeaway boss let the last employee out at around 11pm, he noticed the light was on in the outside staff toilet. 

A few minutes later he noticed it was no longer lit, as Richardson had removed the bulb. 

As Mr Alexandrou went to investigate, Robinson - who had a balaclava style hood pulled over his face - stuffed the Father Christmas sack over his boss’s head, swearing at him, and telling him he was going to kill him, before raining blows upon his defenceless victim.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Alexandrou said: “For the first 24 hours after it happened I kept splashing water over my face. 

"I thought I was dead and wanted to make sure I was still alive. 

"I came so close to death. 

He was strangling me and beating me up. 

“Even though I know it was Kevin Robinson I feel betrayed by him because I have helped him so much and in so many ways.” 

Robinson, of Hart Street, Ulverston, denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) but was convicted following a trial at Preston Crown Court. 

Throughout the sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, Robinsons wife sobbed inconsolably as the case against her husband was set out. 

But jailing the dad-of-five Judge Jacqueline Beech said: “What significance can be placed upon the effect on your family when you planned this attack.”