A FORMER chef at a top hotel was jailed for four months, suspended for two years, after he admitted repeatedly stabbing a fellow cook with a ten inch carving knife in the kitchens at Mottram Hall.

Matthew Bullows, 20, of Pownall Court, Wilmslow, was also sentenced to 300 hours community punishment after he admitted grievous bodily harm against Gareth Hughes.

Bullows was also put on a three month 9pm-6am curfew and given an 18-month supervision order by the town's magistrates.

Luckily for the victim he was wearing a thick chef's jacket and the weapon was blunt.

District Judge David Gostling told the defendant: "You are a first time offender and that is one of the reasons why we are not sending you to prison today."

Kate Marchuk, prosecuting, said: "The victim, Gareth Hughes was in the kitchen at Mottram Hall Hotel and saw the defendant out of the corner of his eye holding a 10in carving knife, not belonging to the hotel.

"Bullows used to work as a chef at the hotel and had his own knives. Bullows shouted 'stop throwing things at me' and the victim felt a jabbing sensation in his back."

He said that the defendant carried on shouting and as Mr Hughes moved to face him he realised he was being stabbed.

The defendant was then said to lunge at Mr Hughes again who shouted "get off me" and put his right arm up.

Miss Marchuk said Mr Hughes was "stunned and shocked" at what happened.

"He suffered a 1in gash to his forearm and five small puncture wounds in back. His injuries could have been far worse had the knife not been blunt and had he not got a thick chef's jacket on," she added.

Julian Farley, defending, said: "Bullows does not in any way disagree with what has been said. He accepts he took a blunt kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Hughes on at least three occasions.

"There is no doubt that Mr Bullows is extremely sorry for what happened and expressed shock and remorse.

"Probation feels that the offence arose from specific circumstances that are not likely to be repeated. It was a culmination of illicit drug abuse superseded by alcohol. Bullows thought Hughes had it in for him."

Mr Farley said since the incident Bullows has stopped taking illegal substances and sought help from his GP, the community alcohol team and counsellors.

He added: "From a voluntary point of view he has done an awful lot to try to put his life back together and to ensure that these circumstances do not happen again. He has no previous convictions and entered an early guilty plea.

"He is willing to change the way he was living his life prior to this incident and accepted all offers of help placed before him since this incident from doctors and probation."

Bullows was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Hughes and £50 court costs.