A 27-YEAR-OLD Newton Abbot man drunk 13 pints of lager before carrying out a serious knife attack on two people in a local pub.

Aidan Seal, of Orchard Court, armed himself with a fruit knife he grabbed from behind the bar at the Swan Inn in Highweek Street in May.

Exeter Crown Court heard Seal lashed out and seriously injured a man and woman who were only trying to act as peacemakers.

The court was told Seal was in the pub with his father but there was a ‘beef’ between two families and the tension grew during the evening.

Seal admitted two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one of possessing a bladed article in public in the early hours of May 4.

He was jailed for 40 months.

The court heard Jonathan Kelly had been out with friends that night and tried to clam the tension by speaking to both groups.

CCTV footage showed Mr Kelly with his hands behind his back and posing no threat when Seal suddenly tried to stab him. Mr Kelly suffered a puncture wound to his chest which needed stitching.

Eye witnesses heard Seal shouting ‘I've got a knife' before lashing out.

And during the scuffle he stabbed Caroline Pressland, who was also trying to help. and she suffered around five wounds to her chest and hand and the incident has had a profound effect on her.

Seal, who has no previous convictions, told police he had nothing to lose and 'just burst' because he had been given grief for so long.

Jailing him, Judge David Evans said it was only 'mere good fortune’ that the victims’ injuries were not far more serious.

He also imposed a five year restraining order banning Seal from contacting the victims or going to the pub.