A MAN who used a machete to attack a long-term acquaintance in a pub fight has been handed a life sentence in prison.
Russell Claydon
A MAN who used a machete to attack a long-term acquaintance in a pub fight has been handed a life sentence in prison.
A jury at Ipswich Crown Court took 42 minutes to find Trevor Lilley unanimously guilty of the attempted murder of David Nicholls.
The incident with the 14-inch machete at the Grinning Rat Pub in Ipswich on June 27 left Mr Nicholls with head wounds and almost cut off his thumb.
Lilley, 57, of Bader Close, Ipswich, told the court he could not remember the assault after consuming 20 pints of lager that day.
He admitted wounding with intent but denied attempted murder.
Judge John De Vaux sentenced him to life imprisonment this afternoon.
He said Lilley would be eligible for parole after four-and-a-half-years minus the 170 days he has spent in custody.
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