A SPURNED husband involved in a bizarre love triangle has been cleared of attempted murder - but found guilty of wounding a rival.

David Hood, whose wife ran off with his daughter's boyfriend was jailed for four years at Chester Crown Court.

Hood, a British Rail conductor from South Avenue, Newton, Chester, is said to have gone to their house in Crewe and stabbed Jason Gardner with a fishing knife.

The 43-year-old defendant denied attempted murder and a lesser charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. But after a four-and-a-half hours deliberation Hood was convicted of the second charge.

Justice Michael Sachs told him that he had shown no remorse or regret over the events and added it would give out the wrong signals if he did not impose a lengthy custodial sentence.

Mr Steven Everett, prosecuting, said that Hood's wife, who he had been with for 20 years, had decided to leave him and go off with a much younger man.

In 1996, the defendant, his wife Elsie, her nine-year-old daughter, their pregnant daughter Donna and her boyfriend Jason Gardner all lived in the same house in Newton, Chester.

But that summer Mrs Hood, the youngest daughter and Mr Gardner left the home to set up a new life together leaving the defendant and the other daughter in Chester.

But by early 1997 things had calmed down and the defendant was even visiting his wife and step-daughter at their new home in Crewe.

But on the night of August 12 last year things changed, the defendant went out for a drink at the Westminster Hotel near Chester station. Those who were with him say they saw nothing unusual.

Before driving to Crewe, Hood left three notes at his home for his new girlfriend, Janet Cross, to find when she got in. One read: "Sorry Jan. But he has destroyed my family and he has to die."

He arrived at the couple's home in Lord Street, Crewe, at about 1am. His wife answered the door and he walked past her, into the living room. On hearing a disturbance downstairs. Mr Gardner got out of bed to investigate. When he entered the living room Hood stood up and pulled a knife out and lunged at the complainant, stabbing him just below the ribs.

At first Mr Gardner didn't realise he had been injured and wrestled the defendant to the floor. He managed to disarm Hood, who became deflated and said he was sorry.

Both men suffered cuts during the scuffle and were taken to hospital. On the way there, Mr Everett said the defendant told the police: "I wish I'd plunged the knife in deeper now." However, in further interviews later that day Hood said he had no recollection of the incident at all.

But Hood told the court he couldn't remember what happened - and even offered to undergo hypnosis to find out.

He added that he had never been aggressive to Mr Gardner and there was no growing animosity and hatred towards him.

About stabbing him the defendant added: "I could never dream of doing something like this to anybody. I don't think I would want to plunge a knife into anyone. Not even Jason."

He stated: "I want to know exactly what happened to put my mind at rest. I have even offered to undergo hypnosis but have been advised against it."

Mr Michael Davies, defending, asked the judge to take into consideration the unusual circumstances that were involved with this attack and that Hood was a warm and caring family man who had worked hard to look after his family during these events.

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