A Suffolk teenager suffered a “horrific” wound to his shoulder which needed 18 stitches after being slashed with a meat cleaver during a late night attack in Lowestoft, a court has heard.
The 17-year-was standing outside a house in Avondale Road with his girlfriend smoking a cigarette in the early hours of June 17 when he heard a heated argument coming from a nearby house, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
He became concerned after hearing the voice of a distressed woman and went to the house and shouted up to a first floor window: ”If she doesn’t want you there take it as a no,” said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.
The youth went to a nearby house and called the police but shortly afterwards he was confronted by Luke Gibb who was armed with a meat cleaver.
The youth picked up a baseball bat and when Gibb swung the cleaver at him he tried to bat it away with the bat.
“He was terrified for his safety,” said Mr Crimp.
During the incident the youth fell to the ground and was struck on the shoulder with the meat cleaver causing a 10cm cut which needed 18 internal and external stitches.
Gibb, 26, of Clapham Road North, Lowestoft, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a meat cleaver.
He was jailed for four years and eight months with an extended three year licence period.
Sentencing him, Judge Rupert Overbury described the teenager’s injury as “horrific” and said he would be left with a permanent scar.
“I’ve seen pictures of the injury and they are horrific. They show a wide wound which had to be stitched internally and externally. It’s going to leave a large scar which will be a permanent reminder to him for the rest of his life,” said the judge.
He said the youth thought he was doing his public duty by protecting Gibb’s partner by intervening in the argument.
“You armed yourself with the meat cleaver to confront him and no doubt scare him off,” added the judge.
He said a Gibb had been under the influence of drink and drugs at the time of the attack.
Matthew McNiff, for Gibb, said the youth’s injury was caused by a single blow.
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