A MAN who slashed his cousin in the chest when an ongoing feud exploded at Tesco’s has been warned he is facing a lengthy jail term.

Carl Thomas stole a knife from the Ocotal Way superstore and then used it to slash Andre Thomas in a fight in the car park.

The 36-year-old said he was acting in self defence claiming the victim had attacked him in the past and threatened to ‘shank him’ during a slanging match in the shop.

And he said Andre, 44, cut him to the wrist with a small knife as they scrapped outside causing him to use the blade he had pinched from the homewear aisle.

Thomas, of Beech Avenue, Pinehurst, pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

But following a trial at Swindon Crown Court a jury of six men and six women convicted him of the charge.

Judge Robert Pawson adjourned the case to Friday March 16 so the probation service can compile a report into the risk he poses of future offending.

He said “The conviction on count one, wounding with intent with a knife like that: there is only one possible sentence. The only question is how long.

“I have no doubt whatsoever Mr Thomas you will want to know your fate.

“Do not think for one moment that the fact I am ordering a presentence report that there will be a non-custodial sentence, that is not possible.”

The judge said before he passes sentence he must decide whether Thomas, who has a history of violent crime, presents a significant risk of serious harm.

During the trial the jury heard that in 1998 he was convicted of robbery, actual bodily harm, attempted robbery and affray when he stamped on someone’s head.

In 2002 he committed a robbery using a knife he had hidden up his sleeve and in 2005 he admitted affray when he again had a bladed weapon.

In 2010 he was convicted of head butting a woman, an offence he said he only admitted to avoid a robbery charge.

The year after he held a knife to a man’s throat during a robbery and in 2015 beat a man with a metal pole during and aggravated burglary, getting three years.

Andre Thomas told the jury how he was with his son when they bumped into his cousin in the shop on the evening of Saturday September 2.

There had been bad blood between them for years and during the chance meeting shortly after 9.30pm he said Carl told him to go outside to sort it out.

Witnesses said both men had shouted at each other during the confrontation in the store and CCTV showed Carl leaving while Andre was using a self service till.

The victim’s son was seen leaving after the defendant and, fearing for him, Andre said he rushed out after paying the automated till.

There was then another altercation when the two men were on either sides of a shopping trolley before Carl pulled out the knife and slashed Andre.

The jury also heard the victim had convictions in the past but had been out of trouble since 1995 apart from a common assault in 2011 and now worked for the council.