AN ULVERSTON takeaway boss says he sleeps with a knife under his pillow as he has been left terrified after being attacked by his ex-chef.

Yesterday Kevin Robinson was found guilty of punching pensioner Christoph Alexandrou as he left work before putting a sack over his head and throttling him.

Lakeland Continental owner Mr Alexandrou said since the incident on November 30, last year, he has installed cameras and sleeps with his windows closed despite the heat.

The 68-year-old also said he cannot go out the back to use the toilet next to where the attack took place without someone with him.

Robinson was warned he could be jailed for the brutal late-night assault.

The jury retired on Monday and returned with a verdict on day five of the trial yesterday. Robinson, 35, then of Hart Street, Ulverston, was found not guilty of attempted grievous bodily harm but guilty of assault.

Judge Jacqueline Beech told the dad-of-five: “You have been found guilty of a very serious offence. You must be aware of that. I will sentence you at Preston Crown Court on August 28 as I have dealt with your trial.

“Do not harbour any false hope that because I have ordered a pre-sentence report that you are not going into custody. That will depend on the outcome of the report.”

The defendant had claimed his former boss has made the whole thing up to avoid an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Mr Alexandrou told the court last Tuesday how he was pounced on by a man wearing what looked like a Christmas stocking with eyes cut out and a Santa sack being put over his head as he was punched and strangled.

The takeaway boss said he thought he was going to die as the material from the bag was stuffed into his mouth, leaving him unable to breathe as he was throttled.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Alexandrou said: “I want to thank the police. They have done their best. I also want to thank my friends who have been asking after me. At least he was found guilty of something.

“I can’t sleep at night after what happened. I have a knife under my pillow. I have to keep the windows shut even when its warm and if I go out to the toilet I have to take someone with me. I now have cameras everywhere.

“My life is just not the same anymore.”

Barrow Detective Sergeant DC Sarah McArthur, the officer in the case, said: “This was a particularly serious offence and I am pleased that justice has been served today by the jury. Cumbria is one of the safest places to live and work, and we work hard to keep it that way.

“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of violence to report it to us so that we can investigate.”