AN axeman told a dad he would ‘chop him to bits’ before shattering his window with a stone.
Philp Clayton, of Armstrong Close, Birchwood, told his victim ‘I am going to finish you’ before following him home.
The 40-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal damage and assault.
Prosecuting, Andrew McInnes said the offences happened on May 15 this year.
He said at around 6.45pm, the victim left his home address in Birchwood to visit a friend in a nearby block of flats.
The court heard how when he arrived at the flats, Clayton, who he has known for around four years, was stood in the doorway of the building with a bottle of alcohol in one hand and an axe in the other.
When the victim approached the flats, Clayton became aggressive and ‘started getting in his face’.
He then said: “I will be waiting for you when you come out and I am going to chop you to bits.”
The man left around five minutes later and made his way back home, but he heard the defendant come from behind and say: “You wait, I am going to finish you.”
Liverpool Crown Court was told how Clayton followed the victim home and kicked the gate open to his garden before pushing him with both hands.
The man managed to escape Clayton and shut his front door.
Clayton could then be heard shouting ‘this ain’t over’.
He then left and appeared five minutes later where he threw a stone at the victim’s front window, causing it to smash.
Mr McInnes said that Clayton was then circulated as wanted and that an axe was recovered from the back of the victim’s address.
A victim impact statement was read to the court in which it was heard how the man’s house has been boarded up for months which has affected his whole family.
The court was told how the family now feel vulnerable in their own home and that the victim has felt stressed and anxious since the incident.
Clayton has 25 convictions for 33 offences.
Defending, Rebecca Smith said: “It is clear that at 40 years of age, Mr Clayton has an unenviable antecedent history.”
Ms Smith said how alcohol played a ‘large part’ in the incident as it changes her client’s personality and that there is a ‘very different side to him’ as his family describe him as caring and loving.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Clayton, who has been remanded in custody since the offence, was diagnosed with ADHD, autism and emotional personality disorder when he was 38 and that he has been finding prison a ‘difficult setting’.
Ms Smith said that while in prison, Clayton has completed the first stage of an Open University course.
Recorder Martine Snowdon handed Clayton a 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
He must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and imposed a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.
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