A CARLISLE man who invited a stranger he had met on the internet into his home had to “fight for his life” as the man began attacking him with a poker.

Luke Jackson, 30, pinned his terrified victim down as he repeatedly stabbed him with the weapon after seeing that the man had a sexual “playroom” in his home, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Doctors blamed the defendant’s behaviour on his mental illness.

At an earlier hearing, Jackson, formerly of Nelson Street, Denton Holme, admitted intentionally causing the victim grievous bodily harm. Prosecutor Martyn Walsh outlined the facts.

He said that Jackson and the man he later attacked first made contact via social media, arranging to meet at the victim’s home in Carlisle April 30 last year. “They didn’t know each other and hadn’t met before,” said Mr Walsh.

When Jackson arrived at the house, the two men consumed alcohol and talked about the victim’s Army background. It was “general chit chat,” the court heard. The victim said he felt sorry for Jackson, who had a “difficult” background.

The man showed the defendant around the house, taking him upstairs and then to his downstairs “playroom,” where adults have previously met. “He described some sexual gratification having taken place in there,” said Mr Walsh.

Moving to the house’s front room with the man, Jackson then saw a towel, under which were sexual aids and condoms. After this, as the defendant ran towards the man, he grabbed the poker from the fireplace, and attacked him.

“He delivered multiple stabs to the neck and back,” said Mr Walsh. Jackson pinned the victim to the floor and repeatedly stabbed at him. “He felt his life was seriously in danger,” said Mr Walsh.

“There was a scuffle and the defendant dropped the poker and told [the man] you are going to die; he strangled him with both hands; [the victim] thought he was fighting for his life.”

During the struggle, the victim managed to grab a walking stick and hit Jackson with it before breaking free and fleeing from the house. At one stage, the defendant referred to a childhood trauma, prompting the victim to say: “What’s that got to do with me?”

The court heard a summary of the victim’s impact statement.

He said he had suffered post traumatic stress, sleep disturbance, and had become hypervigilant as a result of what happened. He suffered multiple puncture wounds to his neck and shoulder areas, the court heard.

Tim Evans, defending, referred to the defendant’s “troubled” background, which meant his visit to the house had left him upset. On the day of the violence, Jackson was clearly unwell, and his father had told him to leave the house and get help.

Following the violence, the defendant had immediately been sorry.

Judge Nicholas Barker noted that the victim had not wanted Jackson to visit his home that day but he felt sorry for him. The “playroom” was not the purpose of the visit and the victim had noticed the defendant’s “irrational” presentation.

“This was a very serious assault, and you were clearly in an agitated and unsettled state,” the judge told Jackson, noting that doctors assessed him as being in “an acute psychotic state” at the time of the violence.

Judge Barker said: “I am satisfied that the nature and extent of this attack has its origins in your mental health and your diagnosis of schizophrenia.”

Citing the need to protect the public, the judge imposed an indefinite hospital order.  This  means Jackson will be detained at a secure psychiatric unit until doctors deem it safe to release him.

Given the risk serious harm posed by the defendant, his compulsory detention may be for some considerable time, added the judge.