A man who launched a nighttime attack in Trowbridge which left a 54-year-old fearing for his life has appeared in court.

Ricky Burke pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

The 28-year-old assaulted Malvern Griffin as he walked home in the early hours of Sunday March 18 leaving him with a nasty cut to his neck.

As a result of the attack, the victim lost a lot of blood and had to undergo an emergency operation.

It is believed Burke, of Brislington, Bristol, used a weapon to assault his victim close to the junction of Canal Road and The Downs, and he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding.

Mr Griffin was walking home from a night out at the Albany Palace when he was attacked at about 2.45am.

He was spotted by passers-by in the middle of the road waving his arms and screaming ‘Help, I’m going to die’.

Paramedics who rushed to the scene spent half an hour trying to stop the heavy bleeding from the wound.

He was then taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where an emergency operation was carried out later in the day.

Judge Euan Ambrose agreed to adjourn the case to Tuesday, November 13 to allow the probation service time to compile a pre-sentence report and granted Burke conditional bail.