A man accused of attempting to murder his neighbour on Christmas Day has pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Darren Fleming, 50, attacked Anthony Parish with a 12in knife on December 25 last year at the block of flats where they both lived in Cardiff leaving the victim with catastrophic stab wounds.
Mr Parish was found lying in a pool of blood by another neighbour who said his face was "hanging off". She also described the scene as like a "horror movie".
He was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he received surgery and stitches to wounds on the top of his head, to the right of his neck, his chin, and had a hole pierced through his left cheek.
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The defendant, of Pennsylvania, Llanedeyrn, appeared for trial at Cardiff Crown Court but entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of wounding with intent, which was formally accepted by the prosecution.
Judge Richard Twomlow found Fleming not guilty of attempted murder and asked for an alternative count of unlawful wounding to lie on file.
During the course of the trial it was heard Mr Parish was extremely intoxicated after attending Christmas dinner at his sister's house and it was claimed by the defendant he had kicked his door in while making a threat to kill him.
This was not accepted by prosecutor James Wilson but he told the court he did not require a Newton hearing to establish the facts.
Defence barrister Mark Wyeth QC asked the court to adjourn sentencing for his client to undergo a pre-sentence report. He said his client had been experiencing anxiety and depression and had recently been suffering from nightmares and bed-wetting.
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Having discharged the jury Judge Twomlow addressed Fleming. He said: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
"I will adjourn your case and I am going to order a pre-sentence report but I give no indication you will not receive anything other than a very lengthy prison sentence."
Fleming was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on October 15.
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