A man who chopped a love rival several times, leaving him permanently scarred, walked free yesterday.

Thisley "Thunder" Dawson used a nine-inch knife to repeatedly cut Gregory Campbell on May 25, 2009 after he found the man in bed with his wife, Ceblle Dawson.

As a result of the deep cuts to his head and body Mr. Campbell spent two days in hospital and needed a blood transfusion.

In a victim impact statement read out in Supreme Court yesterday Mr. Campbell said he was still traumatised by the incident and wakes up some nights thinking someone is attacking him.

During the trial the jury heard that Dawson gave his wife $800 a week for bills and worked 75 hours supporting her and her two children. The defendant said the two were very much together at the time of the attack.

According to a Police statement given by Mrs. Dawson they were estranged in May 2009 but her husband was the type of person who did not take "no" for an answer.

Mr. Campbell said he was under the impression the Dawsons were separated as he spent a lot of time, including nights, at the house.

The jury, at one point, asked to hear evidence from Mrs. Dawson. She did not take the stand during the trial.

In Supreme Court yesterday Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves heard that two months after the assault took place Mrs. Dawson wrote to the Department of Immigration requesting her husband receive a new spousal letter — entitling him to live and work on the Island. She said the two had reconciled after three months apart.

Mr. Justice Greaves told both Crown counsel Maria Sofianos and defence lawyer Kenrick James that the request should have been entered as evidence.

Justice Greaves said: "It would have been important to hear the evidence of Mrs. Dawson.

"The jury thought so and made a request to hear from her.

"But the jury had to be instructed by this court that witnesses sometimes do not appear to give evidence for all sorts of reasons.

"In her statement she alleged she and her husband were estranged and implied he was the kind of person that would not take "no" for an answer.

"We do not know because she was never tested on that.

"Therefore I think the defendant's evidence has to be accepted as it is."

He added that he believed any man or woman who walked into their marital bedroom and found an individual naked with their spouse could have had a similar reaction as Dawson.

He added that Dawson "must have blown his top" after seeing another man in bed with his wife.

He gave Dawson a three-year sentence, which was suspended for three years.