A man who carried out a “frenzied” attack on his uncle at a family party during which he hit him with a broken bottle and stamped on his head has been jailed for seven years.

Darren Pountney “flew off the handle” after taking offence at a remark made by his uncle Sean Harrington and launched a violent attack on him during which he suffered a wound close to the jugular vein at the base of his skull which measured 10cm in length and was deep enough to cut into the muscle, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Pountney, 25, of The Street, Beck Row admitted wounding Mr Harrington with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm in August last year.

Jailing him for seven years Recorder Gerard Pounder said the attack had taken place during a birthday party for Pountney’s mother at her home.”It was a happy occasion that ended up being an unhappy occasion,” said the judge.

Pountney had taken offence at a remark made by his uncle and had “flown off the handle” and had used crockery and a broken bottle to attack Mr Harrington and had also punched him and then stamped on his head when he went to the ground.

Mr Pounder said the incident had been witnessed by two children and told Pountney that Mr Harrington could have suffered life threatening injuries if a major blood vessell had been nicked.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting said the incident happened at the home of Pountney’s mother and her partner in The Street, Beck Row. Pountney had been drinking and took offence when Mr Harrington made a comment when he saw him helping himself to another drink.

Mr Sadd said that witnesses to the attack described Pountney as being in a “frenzy” and Mr Harrington told police he had feared for his life.

Mark McDonald for Pountney said his client had not taken any weapons to the party and had used items he picked up in the house to attack his uncle.

On the day of the attack Pountney had been drinking and there had been a squabble between him and Mr Harrington after Mr Harrington made a remark about him not working.

He said that thankfully Mr Harrington’s injuries were not more serious and Pountney had expressed remorse for what he had done.