Bristol machete attacker jailed

A Bristol builder who sliced a man's arm with a machete in a revenge attack has been jailed for 15 months.

Jimmy Hicks lashed out at Jason Redford after the other man's cousin attacked his father with a baseball bat, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Hicks, 22, of no fixed address, admitted wounding. Imposing sentence, the recorder, Mr Barry Cotter, told him: "You had no intention to cause serious bodily injury but rather an intention of frightening your victim.

"You damaged his car and the aggravating features were taking a weapon from your vehicle in what would have been a terrifying incident.

"There could have been more serious injury, but still, a 5cm gash is wholly unacceptable."

Sarah Regan, prosecuting, told the court that Hicks' father had been assaulted by a man called Luke Hayward.

When Hicks spotted Hayward's cousin Mr Redford in Knowle Park, said Miss Regan, he got out of his car carrying a machete and smashed Mr Redford's windscreen.

Witnesses said they then saw Hicks put the knife into the car with a stabbing motion.

In interview with police, Hicks initially claimed he had been working with his father building an extension and there had been no problems between him and Mr Redford.

The court heard Mr Redford suffered a deep cut to his forearm, down to the muscle, which required sutures and left a scar.

Giles Nelson, mitigating, said his client, who has a daughter and partner, was a sub-contractor in a drylining business.

He said Hicks and Hayward had originally been friends but trouble arose after they drifted apart.

Mr Nelson said a "very heavy cocktail" developed and the situation was inflamed by Hayward assaulting Hicks' father and being jailed for 21 months because of it.

Mr Nelson told the court his client, had acted in an out-of-character way on the spur of the moment.