A YORK man fell victim to a murderous axe attack in a dark park when he went for a weekend in Scarborough with his fiance, a jury heard today.

Richard Mansell, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court that Arthur Jamie McLauchlan, 22, may have succeeded in killing Philip Holdsworth, if the weapon had not broken in his hand as it hit the York man's head for the second time.

The 22-year-old Scarborough attacker had taken Mr Holdsworth down a badly-lit disused railway line and into woodland ravine in the early hours of December 29.

There, in an unexpected and unprovoked attack, he attacked Mr Holdsworth, fracturing his skull with an axe he had concealed up his sleeve, alleged Mr Mansell.

He told the jury that the only sensible conclusion they could come to was that McLauchlan had intended to kill Mr Holdsworth and that he may have succeeded if the axe had not broken.

McLauchlan, of Rothbury Street, Scarborough, denies the attempted murder of Mr Holdsworth, of Lawrence Street, York, and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Mr Mansell said that Mr Holdsworth, and Susan Martin, his girlfriend, arrived in Scarborough on Friday, December 27, for a weekend at the Hillcrest Bed and Breakfast.

But in the early hours of Sunday, when Mr Holdsworth was drunk, he argued with Miss Martin and the hotel's owner, was ejected from a pub and refused entry into the bed and breakfast.

As he wandered the streets of Scarborough waiting for the first train of the day back home to York, he met McLauchlan. They walked together for about 30 minutes before McLauchlan offered to take him home to Rothbury Street.

"On the face of it, it was simply to give Mr Holdsworth a coffee and give him somewhere to sit for the next two hours so he could wait for the train," said the barrister.

However, once in the house McLauchlan took an axe from a tool cupboard, concealed it up his sleeve and suggested they go out for a walk.

The trial continues.

Updated: 14:22 Tuesday, June 24, 2003