A film crew member "viciously" stabbed his co-worker in the neck during a tea break at Warner Bros Studios.

Johnny Walker, 56, of Buckingham Road, Borehamwood, attacked stagehand Darren Langford during an argument at the film studio in Leavesden in June 2019, leaving him with a deep neck wound from which he was convinced he was going to die.

Mr Langford needed internal and external stitches for the knife injury.

Giving evidence during the trial at St Albans Crown Court, Mr Langford said that Walker had been holding a grudge against him that came to a head during a tea break.

He recalled how, on the day of the attack, Walker deliberately cut in front of him to take the last cup of tea and, when he went to confront him about his behaviour, the defendant accused him of being a 'grass' and threatened to kill him.

Thinking Walker was merely going to punch him, Mr Langford pushed him away. He recounted then seeing a Stanley knife in Walker’s hand. He pleaded with the defendant to put the knife down as he tried to dodge backwards; but Walker lunged forward and stabbed him in the neck.

Nationals reported at the time the attack took place on the set of the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic The Witches.

At St Albans Crown Court today (March 18), Walker, of Buckingham Road, Borehamwood, was convicted of wounding with intent. He will be sentenced at the same court on May 26.

Jan Muller of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Walker denied intending to wound Mr Langford, but the CCTV evidence we presented in court showed how the argument between the two men escalated, with Walker then taking something from his back pocket and striking at his co-worker’s neck, clearly intending to cause him really serious injury.

"Walker’s vicious attack, which could very easily have had fatal consequences, has had a profound effect on his victim. We hope today’s conviction will go some way to helping him rebuild his life."