A violent criminal from Devizes who attacked a friend with the blunt side of an axe in a drunken rage has failed in a bid to clear his name.

Paul Simon Illsley, of Mayenne Place, hit David Hartland after the pair spent a day drinking on a boat they owned together in August 2015.

The 42-year-old, whose criminal record includes 154 previous offences, was found guilty of wounding with intent at Isleworth Crown Court in January last year.

Categorised as a "dangerous" offender, he was handed an eight-year extended sentence, made up of a six-year jail term and two extra years on licence.

Illsley challenged his conviction at the Court of Appeal, in London, with his lawyers arguing it was "unsafe".

They said the evidence of a witness, which could potentially have strengthened his defence, was wrongly kept from jurors during his trial.

But, dismissing his appeal, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said Illsley had accepted his trial barrister's advice and could not now complain.

Sitting with Lady Justice Thirlwall and Mr Justice Green, he added: "The law is clear that tactical decisions made in good faith will not render a conviction unsafe.

"This was an unreliable witness, whose evidence may have undermined Illsley's defence."