A NIGHT out for two men enjoying a Christmas Eve drink with their friends turned to horror when they were both slashed with a knife in an unprovoked attack.

Graphic video footage from a CCTV camera in the Three Crowns pub in Little Lever showed alcoholic drug addict Anthony Hilton approach a table full of festive drinkers.

After exchanging a few words with the men at the table Hilton suddenly lashed out with a knife he had taken from the food buffet table and slashed the cheek of a man next to him. In the melee that followed another man was slashed across the face by Hilton who was pursued out of the pub by other drinkers. He was later found in the road covered in blood from a head wound.

Hilton, aged 25, of Primrose Avenue, Farnworth, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced for two charges of wounding with intent.

Jailing Hilton for five years consecutive to 85 days outstanding on licence from a previous sentence, Recorder Michael Byrne said: "Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace and goodwill."

He said the assault was "an unprovoked savage attack by you which caused your victims permanent scarring. This kind of conduct cannot be tolerated." Prosecutor Richard Heap said the attacks happened as the men were enjoying a drink in the Three Crowns on Christmas Eve.

Hilton, who was high on drugs and drink, walked up to the table and asked: "Who battered me last week?"

He refused to go away and when the men stood up he lashed out with a knife he said he had taken from the buffet slashing Paul Harvey across the face leaving a deep 3cm gash.

In the mass fight that followed Hilton again slashed another drinker called Martin Howarth. Both men were treated at hospital and are expected to be scarred for life.

The court heard that Hilton's drink and drug problems stemmed from his inability to grieve properly following the death of his brother in tragic circumstances in 1991.

Until that point he had no convictions for violence but he had become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Recorder Byrne made no order for compensation for the victims but ordered the knife be destroyed.