A TRAINEE soldier is facing up to life in prison for the attempted murder of a comrade who he told a court martial he was being bullied by.

Private James Farrell, 18, told a trial he plunged a knife into the bed of the "ringleader" of a group of fellow trainees who were bullying him at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

Prosecutors said the blow was aimed at Rifleman Curtis Horbury's head and he had to roll out of the way, but Farrell said he had no intention of hitting him with the knife and just wanted to scare him to make him leave him alone.

Farrell denied attempted murder but was convicted following a three-day trial at Colchester Garrison in Essex.

A board of five military officers returned its verdict on Wednesday after around three hours of deliberation.

Farrell will be sentenced for the offence next month, together with sentencing for ammunition offences which he admitted in separate proceedings.

Farrell, who was with the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, told the trial he started his training at Catterick in September and was bullied "nearly the whole time" by others in his dormitory.

He said he was verbally abused, physically struck "a few times" and that his room-mates threw rubbish including half-empty drinks cans into his bed space.

On the day of the incident, other trainees were "ripping into him" for wearing the wrong uniform on Remembrance Sunday, and asking questions about his home background after he said he did not get the grades to become an Army medic, the court heard.

Farrell said he left the dormitory on the evening of November 13 to go to a smoking shelter and calm down.

He said he intended to return to the room and punch Rifleman Horbury, but when he got back he "lost it", took out his knife and stabbed the bed.

Rifleman Horbury, who said he was lying in the bed texting at the time, said he thought the knife would have hit his head if he had not rolled out of the way.

Farrell said that afterwards he stepped back and told Rifleman Horbury: "Let that be a warning to you."

Farrell, who appeared in uniform for the trial, showed no reaction as the unanimous verdict was read out.

Vice-Judge Advocate General Michael Hunter asked for pre-sentence reports to be prepared ahead of a sentencing hearing on March 20 at Colchester Garrison.

Attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with time to be served in a civilian prison.

In a court martial, the sentence is decided by the judge and the military board together.

In separate proceedings, Farrell admitted possessing 42 rounds of live ammunition, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline by way of possession of 30 rounds of blank ammunition.

All matters will be sentenced together.