A MAN has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of a stabbing in a flat, just yards from where people were flocking to Bridgwater Fair.

Lee Tremayne (pictured), aged 25, of Turner Close, Bridgwater, was charged with wounding with intent and assault by beating following two incidents last September.

Tremayne denied the charges but was found guilty of both offences on March 19 following a two-and-a-half day trial at Taunton Crown Court.

The jury was out for just over two hours before returning unanimous verdicts for the charges that Tremayne assaulted a woman on September 25 and stabbed a man on September 26.

Sgt Gary Young, of Bridgwater Police, told the Mercury he had been working that night when a man was attacked by Tremayne with a fine sharp blade.

He said: “The victim had received slashes to his body and face and went to A&E that night for stitches.

“He had cuts down his back and across his legs as well as down his face.

“The ambulance arrived quickly and before that some people from the council came and gave the victim first aid.

“We put a call in to CCTV with Tremayne’s description after he fled the scene on a bike.

“There were thousands of people in the area for the fair at the time – but with the help of CCTV he was caught and arrested within an hour.

“This case demonstrates that offenders will be dealt with and justice can be done.”

As reported in the Mercury last year, police were called to a flat at Southbourne House, just off West Street – one of the main routes to the popular town fair – at around 6.30pm.

The incident was not linked to the fair in any way.

Ambulance crews confirmed that a man in his 30s was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, in a serious but not life-threatening condition.