A MAN who slashed a teenager's throat with a knife in Bournemouth town centre in a "terrifying display of violence" has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Glen Morrant, 18, had been on a night out celebrating his A-level results when he was attacked by Kevin Boyle in the early hours of August 18.

The teenager suffered a large wound to his throat which required 49 stitches during the incident. Prosecutors believe he was targeted in a case of mistaken identity.

Boyle, 60, had involved in a row with door staff at the Camel Bar in Old Christchurch Road at 4.10am on the day of the attack.

During the row, two young men intervened and hid Boyle's baseball cap underneath a parked car before ushering him away from the scene.

Mr Morrant was not involved in the incident outside Camel. However, he looked like one of the young men involved, jurors heard.

Prosecutors said the student was mistakenly targeted.

Mr Morrant left Camel at 6am and went to a cashpoint in Old Christchurch Road.

Boyle, who lived a short distance away in Wootton Gardens, was seen on CCTV having apparently been home to change his clothes.

He waited at a bus stop outside Camel from around 5.45am.

Mr Morrant became separated from his group. Boyle then followed him to the cashpoint, took a knife from his pocket and slashed his victim’s throat before running away.

Mr Morrant suffered a 23-centimetre wound to his throat.

The defendant was later arrested at his flat.

Detective Constable Chris Griffin, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Kevin Boyle displayed a terrifying level of violence, slashing the throat of a young man who had simply been out celebrating his A-level results.

“This was a cold and cowardly attack on an innocent young man with his whole future ahead of him.

“He has been left with life-changing injuries and Boyle’s actions could so easily have led to the tragic death of a completely innocent victim.

“Personally, I would like to thank every person involved in supporting the investigation as this has been instrumental in the success of this case.

Dorset Police will not tolerate violence of this nature and we are committed to ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.”

Boyle was convicted of the attack following a six-day trial at Winchester Crown Court.

He is due to be sentenced on March 22.