A MAN who carried out a savage axe attack on a 34-year-old Newton man has been jailed for 14 years.

Steven Cunliffe (31) formerly of Elm Avenue, Golborne, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, where judge David Madison declared: "It is quite simply the worst case of aggravated burglary I have personally ever come across."

The victim, Anthony Bikantas, was attacked at his home in Findlay Close on November 12 last year. He suffered 23 different cuts to different parts of his head, limbs and body and also sustained fractures to his skull, arm, leg and fingers.

During the trial it was revealed that Cunliffe had tied his victim up and put a pillow case and plastic bag over his head.

Mr Bikantas was tied up so tightly that his hands were in a clawed position when he was eventually discovered more than 36 hours later.

Following the sentencing, DS Don Gordon from St Helens Police Station, who led the investigation into the attack, said: "Cunliffe is clearly a dangerous person who left Mr Bikantas in a critical condition. If it hadn't been for a care worker calling at the address the following day, Mr Bikantas wouldn't be alive today."

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