Machete Man 'Flipped' And Slashed Houseguest

A machete-wielding New Addington man, high on a cocktail of booze and cocaine, who slashed a houseguest's hand and head during a violent row at his home, was spared prison yesterday.

Tarmacer Joseph March, 28, of Queen Elizabeth Drive “flipped” when a group of friends returned to his house after a drinking-session and started playing loud music.

“This was a completely horrifying incident and it must have been terrifying seeing someone brandishing this weapon with lots of people around,” Recorder Charles George QC told the first-time offender.

“Someone got slashed to the back of the head, which they needed stitiches for, and slashed to the hand, for which they also needed stitches.”

Father-of-two March pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Jack Thomas, causing him grievous bodily harm, at the address on September 15.

Prosecutor Miss Sue Obeney told the court: “The victim had gone to the pub and was in the company of the defendant and others and went back to the defendant's house.

“Things seemed to be okay until the victim heard a commotion upstairs, where the defendant was arguing with the victim's cousin.”

March admitted drinking approximately twelve to fourteen pints of lager, three whiskeys and taking half a gramme of cocaine.

The woman March was arguing with, Shelley Travers, was his girlfriend's sister and she slapped him across the face before he reached under his bed and produced the two-foot long machete.

“The defedant was swinging it and Mr. Thomas got in the way to prevent injury to his cousin and the blade struck his hand.

“The defendant started to push him and Shelley out of the house and the blade then also slashed the victim's head.”

Witnesses told police bare-chested March also armed himself with a heavy-duty spanner and held a glass of beer in the other hand, which he smashed in the front garden.

Shelley dialled 999, but also found herself being taken away by police for slapping March across the face again after he had been arrested and was in their custody.

March told the officers: “I admit I cut him up with the machete. I chopped him, I feel no remourse, it was self-defence. I tried to kill the c***.”

After the attack Mr. Thomas suffered sleepless nights and told police: “I feared further reprisals.”

He needed five stitches to his hand and complains of occassional numbness to his thumb and received eight stitches to the back of his head.

“This is a row that has escalated between him and his girlfriend's sister,” said Mr. David Bacup, defending. “There was an issue with money and he was upset about music blaring out of his house.”

Recorder George QC told March: “You flipped and took from under your bed a formidable knife. Your aim was to get everyone out of your house.

“This was a dreadful incident and the court has been remarkably generous to you.”

March received twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, was ordered to complete 250 hours community service work, an anger management course, pay £500 compensation to Mr. Thomas and £100 costs.