By james art Jack Muncaster threatened the woman’s partner before damaging the windows of their Seat Ibiza with the machete in Merton, County Durham, at 11.30pm on Friday, April 19 this year.
Durham Crown Court heard that when the woman approached from behind, protesting about the damage she was causing, Muncaster swung the machete in her direction.
Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said it caused a significant laceration to the woman’s forearm, exposing the tendons in the area near the wrist.
She required extensive hospital treatment and has not yet fully regained the use of her arm.
Although he admitted the latter two offenses earlier in the trial, it was not until the day of the scheduled trial, October 7, that the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of wounding with intent.
Miss Buck said it may have been late in the incident but Muncaster had by then formed the intention to cause “really serious harm” with a punch which was a “deliberate blow” to the victim.
The court was told the defendant of no fixed address, who only turned 21 in June, already had 17 convictions for 33 offenses on his record.
He recently served an 18-month sentence for domestic burglary in 2023.
He has been released on bail and will be sentenced next month.
Katie Spence, for Muncaster, said his intention that night was to cause damage to the car and it was a “split second decision” to fire the machete in the direction of the victim which “ruined his life and the appellant’s life as well so.”
Miss Spence said: “It was not prolonged or permanent but he accepts he caused these injuries.
“He is incredibly ashamed of his behavior and completely remorseful.”
Miss Spence said that, aged just 21, the defendant had spent a “significant part of his life in custody”, having been “exposed to criminal behavior from quite an early age”.
She added: “It’s a shame because when he’s on the straight and narrow, he looks like someone who wants to stay there.”
Imposing the six-year sentence, Judge Nathan Adams said the whole incident could have lasted just 20 seconds.
He said that after stopping in a vehicle, the defendant, who was the passenger, jumped out carrying the machete and damaged the other vehicle before delivering a single blow in the direction of the complainant with a “very dangerous weapon”. ”
“Not surprisingly, she spent two nights in hospital.
“The machete went through her wrist halfway through and required significant medical intervention.”
The judge said the victim had scars up to the length of her wrist.
Muncaster is due to spend two-thirds of the six years behind bars, with time spent in custody before today’s (Wednesday, October 23) hearing counting towards the sentence.
He was also given a concurrent 18-month prison sentence for a distraction burglary at a house in Blackhall Colliery in December 2022, in which he took car keys from a worktop before driving off in the vehicle.
Judge Adams said Muncaster should have been charged and tried for this offense at the time he received his 18-month sentence in October last year, also for a two-in-one burglary involving keys for a car and vehicle taken in Sunderland in June 2023 as it predated that offence.
He also imposed lifetime restraining orders banning Muncaster from contacting or approaching the victim of the machete attack or a friend who witnessed the incident.
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Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Jessica Palmer, from Peterlee Police, said: “This was a horrific incident for the woman involved who was left with life-changing injuries as a result of Muncaster’s actions.
“The impact of knife crime on individuals, families and communities is truly devastating and long-lasting.
“We will always take strong action against those who choose to carry knives and use them to harm others.”