A Sheppey movie actor known for his hard man roles “savagely” attacked his cousin with a hatchet, leaving him badly injured and covered in blood, a court heard.

Former professional boxer Colin Vidler had earlier assaulted Ben Vidler outside The Playa pub in Minster after the pair clashed, it was alleged.

But he denied being responsible for the hatchet attack as Ben Vidler, then 40, walked along the seafront to Sheerness.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the landlord of The Napier reported to police that there was a “bloodied and severely injured man” outside his pub.

Mr Vidler was taken to a London hospital to be treated for “horrendous injuries” to his head, face, shoulders, arms and back.

“He was attacked by someone using an axe and lost a fair amount of blood,” prosecutor Ian Hope told a jury.

“The photographs are distressing. There no ways around that.”

Vidler, 46, who owns The Invicta Guest House in Marine Parade, Sheerness, denies attempted murder, an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, having an offensive weapon and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Hope said Mr Vidler had stayed at his older cousin’s guest house on and off and they were extremely close. He looked up to him like a brother.

He attended a barbecue at the guest house and afterwards they went to The Playa pub at The Leas in Minster. Vidler was drinking double shots.

Vidler, who was known as The Hammer when boxing, suddenly attacked his cousin outside, headbutting and punching him and knocking him to the ground, it was alleged.

Mr Vidler afterwards headed back to the guest house.

“He got about two thirds of the way when Colin came out of nowhere,” said Mr Hope.

“He had a hatchet which he had at the barbecue.

“He repeatedly struck him with it, including one blow to the top of the head and one to the left eye. His eye filled with blood.

“Having struck him several times with the hatchet, Colin Vidler made him walk home with him and sit down on the step outside the address.

“He was told if he didn’t sit on the step he would kill him there and then. He said he was going to get some plastic and they were going to have a drive.

“Ben Vidler believed Colin Vidler was going to kill him. He decided to run from the address. He hid under a car.

“After some length of time he stumbled to The Napier Hotel where he banged on the windows just before midnight. The manager called the police.”

Mr Hope said it may well have been that Mr Vidler was a source of embarrassment to his cousin at The Playa pub.

“He may even to some greater or lesser extent be asking for it,” he said.

“But the concern is the extent to which matters went.”

During a 999 call by the landlord, Mr Vidler could be heard saying “I love you” to his cousin as a term of worship.

Mr Hope said of the later attack: “Someone comes out of the shadows on that walk home and savagely attacked Ben Vidler. That must have been within an hour of the fight.

“The attacker was carrying some sort of heavily bladed weapon. The only real question is if the attacker wanted to kill Ben Vidler.

“He identified the man who attacked him as being the man he loves and sees as a brother, Colin Vidler.”

Police arrested him at the guest house at 4am. He queried what he was being arrested for and declared: “Ben is my cousin. Hope he is okay.”

Vidler said he had worked as a doorman. He headbutted his cousin twice, he said, as he was trained to do as a way of dealing with it effectively and quickly.

He claimed he found his cousin face down in the road apparently unconscious and thought he had been the victim of a hit and run.

Vidler said he helped his cousin to his feet and he responded: “Don’t cut me no more, don’t stab me no more.”

He said his cousin mistook him as the perpetrator of the crime instead of a Good Samaritan. He tried to get him back to the guest house and got covered in blood.

Vidler said he went to get cleaned up and when he returned his cousin had gone. When he could not find him, he went to bed.

Mr Hope said Mr Vidler had previous convictions, including an assault on an 86-year-old man. He had taken drugs and had issues with his mental health.

He had since sent his cousin threatening messages, wishing him harm.

The trial continues.