A raging man swung a meat cleaver at his neighbours after a row over noise escalated.
Paul Duckworth, 55, armed himself with the butcher's knife before going to confront a group of young people who occupied a flat in the same shared building in Hampton Road, Southport.
Matters quickly escalated and resulted in Duckworth injuring a teenage boy and girl. Today (Friday) he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and another charge of common assault.
READ MORE : Drug plot gang jailed for more than 180 years
The court heard tensions had been simmering for some time between Duckworth and the group over noise issues, including doors being slammed and banging on the door of Duckworth's flat as they passed.
On the evening of May 25 last year, the dispute came to a head when Duckworth went to complain about being disturbed by the noise made by the flat's occupants after they returned home from a night out.
David Watson, prosecuting, said: "When the door was opened, the occupants found Duckworth standing there holding a butcher's knife with a seven-inch blade. He tried to get in and when they tried to close the door, he put his foot in the door frame. He started swinging the knife at the two men, who tried to defend themselves against him.
"He continued to swing the cleaver, which connected with the left thigh of one of the men, and the left hand of the other, resulting in a cut. In addition, the 17-year-old girl was either pushed or thrown down the stairs. A neighbour intervened who was also swung at, but who elbowed the defendant to the head. Duckworth then returned to his own flat and the police were called, who arrested him and recovered a cleaver from his flat."
In personal impact statements, the victims said they had feared worse injuries and in one case had been left with back pain and anxiety.
Christopher Stables, defending, said Duckworth had "stupidly" armed himself with the knife "with his own defence in mind", adding: "It was undoubtedly a frightening incident for those involved. It marked the culmination of a series of events involving the defendant and his neighbours in the shared house which was divided into individual flats - this included noise late at night, smelling cannabis in the house, shouting and banging on doors.
"The situation deteriorated and in the ensuing melee the complainants were injured. Fortunately their injuries were relatively minor. These incidents were out of character and he has since removed himself from the area and is now living in Bradford. He leads a quiet life and keeps himself to himself."
The judge, Recorder Michael Blakey, told Duckworth: "You ran amok with that weapon. Fortunately the injuries were slight, but it could have gone drastically wrong. It's not acceptable in any circumstances to carry a weapon or use it in any way, shape or form.
"You have no difficulties with alcohol or drugs but anybody who carries a weapon will face the consequences when they come to court."
Mr Blakey sentenced Duckworth to a total of 18 months' imprisonment for the three offences, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work.
Man walks down Anfield road carrying huge machete as four people attacked
Two arrested after gun pointed at Matrix officers
Drunken louts abuse easyJet staff after being refused on plane
First 12 streets in Liverpool to get new underground super-bins
