Last updated at 15:53, Sunday, 15 July 2012

TWO men have been jailed for a total of 28 years for a horrific attack which left an Ulverston man permanently scarred.

Michael Dixon and Michael Pettinger’s victim had a knife forced horizontally over both sides of his mouth, after one of them said: “Let’s give him a Glasgow smile,” a court heard.

The violent ordeal at an address in Kingsway, Ulverston, had also seen Michael Metcalfe chased around his home, kicked to keep him on the floor, as well as being repeatedly punched. Mr Metcalfe also suffered severed tendons in his left hand in pushing the blade away, to stop it cutting deeper into his face.

Dixon, 36, of Buxton Place, Ulverston and Pettinger, 34, of Hawthorn Avenue, Ulverston had both earlier denied charges of wounding with intent and having an offensive weapon – a knife – but were convicted by a jury.

Each was given a prison term of 14 years at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

The pair – under the influence of drink and drugs – had turned up at Mr Metcalfe’s home one afternoon last December.

Mr Metcalfe answered the door, thinking his mum had brought him his tea, but the two men pushed their way inside and the violence followed.

In his terror, Mr Metcalfe offered them money, hoping his ordeal would end.

Pettinger had said: “Let’s give him a Glasgow smile” and then forced the blade of a large knife horizontally against both corners of his mouth, pushing hard.

The attack left him permanently disfigured, even though he later underwent cosmetic surgery.

Judge Robert Altham said: “He took what must have been a terrible decision to push against the blade, to stop it cutting deeper into his face.”

Tendons in his left hand ended up severed, causing a loss of sensation in three fingers.

Dixon had claimed at his trial that he was not responsible for the violence. Pettinger had said he could not recall what happened, having taken a large amount of drink and valium.

In passing sentence, Judge Altham said the circumstances of the case were “particularly horrific”.

It was not entirely clear why the defendants had gone to the property, he said.

Mr Metcalfe would never forget the terror of being cut with the knife, he added.

The judge told the defendants: “He was physically and mentally no match for the two of you.

“I have no doubt he was targeted, at least partly because of his vulnerability.”

First published at 13:11, Sunday, 15 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk