The wife of an Ipswich man deliberately run over by their neighbour has said the offender showed no remorse in court.

Matthew Jarman was jailed for three years at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday after driving his car into Ian Davey outside his home on Eustace Road in July last year.

After hitting Mr Davey – whose son was just across the street – Jarman charged at another man with an axe.

Helen Davey told this newspaper that Jarman was more concerned about the damage done to his car than to her husband.

“He had no remorse at all,” she said.

“He just thinks that he is a victim in his own right.

“He could have killed my son if he had driven the other way.”

It was mentioned in court that Jarman suffered from anxiety and depression.

Mrs Davey added that she thought Jarman should have been disciplined under the Mental Health Act, rather than made to serve his sentence in jail.

Overall, Mrs Davey was relieved that the case was resolved.

She said: “I am happy that justice has been served. The judge was spot on with what she said.”

When asked what she would say to Jarman now if given the chance, Mrs Davey said: “I would say I hoped he gets the help that he needs. I believe in forgiveness.

“I don’t understand why he did that that day, [but] he has been hurt for a very long time.

“The best thing is for him to be off the streets.”

Mrs Davey added that she wished to sincerely thank victim support for their advice over the course of the trial, especially considering that her son was left very upset by the ordeal.

“He has been through a terrible thing,” she said.

“They went beyond the call of duty.”

After colliding with Mr Davey’s legs, Jarman reversed from the driveway and parked at the top of Eustace Road, where he grabbed an axe and ran towards Mr Ball at the moment police arrived.

Mr Davey, who thought Jarman had intended to do him ‘serious harm’, underwent surgery to ruptured quadriceps, and to reattach knee ligaments.

Jarman, 42, has two previous convictions for causing physical harm to another person, one for behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and a caution for common assault.