Man admits attacking Carlisle shop owner - leaving him "burned and blistered"

A man has been warned he faces jail for attacking a Carlisle shop owner who was left "burned and blistered".

Frank Robertson, 60, had been charged with attempted murder following an incident at the PB Sports store, Wigton Road, on the morning of 13 February.

This prompted a major emergency services response.

At Carlisle Crown Court today, Friday 16 March, Robertson pleaded not guilty to that allegation.

However, he entered guilty pleas to three other offences.

He admitted attempting to causing Vaughan Livesey grievous bodily harm, and also the possession of two offensive weapons - a blow torch and a machete - in a public place.

Robertson's barrister, Ian Hudson, observed that Mr Livesey's leg injuries amounted to "superficial burning and blistering" to "no more than two per cent" of his total body area.

Judge James Adkin adjourned the case both for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Robertson which addresses the risk he poses of committing further serious offences; and for a victim personal statement from Mr Livesey - who needed hospital treatment - to be provided.

Robertson, of Stainton, near Penrith, will receive his punishment at the crown court on 13 April, and was remanded in custody in the meantime.

"You know what the sentence is going to be - prison," Judge Adkin told him. "It is just a question of how long and what sort of sentence it is."