A man pulled out a machete on his friend in an argument over drugs but was chased down the street and attacked with a baseball bat. He ended up with injuries, while his victim was left unharmed, and his now been jailed.
Liam Jones, 31, had been smoking cannabis with Ashley Boyland in a shed at the latter's Bargoed home when an argument began with Jones accused of stealing cannabis. In response the defendant said: "Why the f*** are you accusing me of that s***?" before pulling out a machete from his clothing.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard Jones swung the machete at Mr Boyland, who shouted to his partner to call the police. She then locked the doors as she feared for the safety of her children.
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Jones ran away from the house still in possession of the machete and was chased by Mr Boyland and another man as he jumped over fences. He tried to get into the home of a 70-year-old woman who was told not to let him in by his pursuers.
Prosecutor Richard Ace said: "They managed to get hold of the defendant and pulled him to the floor and Mr Boyland picked up a piece of wood or a bat. He told the defendant to drop the machete and he ultimately did. [Jones] said he would give him his stuff back but Mr Boyland said: 'I don't give a f*** about that, you pulled a machete on me'."
The court heard Jones was hit by the victim and received injuries. He was arrested and told police he had the machete because he was on the run and found the weapon in a park. The defendant, of Llancayo Street, Bargoed, admitted affray and possession of a bladed article.
In a victim personal statement Mr Boyland's partner said she thought he was going to be killed as the machete was held just inches from his face and said she no longer felt safe in her own home. Mr Ace said Jones had a number of previous convictions including robbery, burglary, wounding, and arson.
Defence barrister Kevin Seal said his client had suffered with an addiction to drugs but was now receiving support and had been prescribed methadone. He also said the defendant had been diagnosed with ADHD.
Sentencing, Recorder Eugene Egan said: "You produced a machete and swung it at another person. Mercifully there were no injuries." Jones was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
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