A man jailed for a machete attack was told he was lucky he did not kill his victim.

Sam Stimpson, of Crowland, near Peterborough, slashed Christopher Holly, 23, twice at a garden party in Musgrove Way, St Neots, on July 12. The first blow broke Mr Holly’s arm.

Craig McDougall, prosecuting, told Peterborough Crown Court on Monday that Stimpson, 22, was driven to the house with a machete, and accompanied by a number of other people, who had not been caught.

Mr McDougall said: “Stimpson went into the back garden. He was not on the invitation list. He shouted out ‘Who is Chris, which of them is Chris?’

“Chris Holly stands up and Stimpson chopped down at him with the machete, aiming at his head. Mr Holly pulled up his arms in an instinctively defensive manoeuvre, blocking the blow. Mr Holly was held back and suffered a second blow to his left arm. Mr Holly was able to get up and out of the garden.”

Stimpson returned to the car but it left at speed without him.

Mr Holly went to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, with two cuts to his left arm and a fractured elbow. He had to have two plates fitted.

Samantha Marsh, mitigating for Stimpson, said: “The incident happened shortly after he broke up with his wife who he had a 16-month-old child with.

“He said to me that if he hadn’t been drinking and wasn’t under the influence of drugs at the time, it would not have taken place.

“He is a petty criminal and his behaviour has shocked him.”

On November 4, Stimpson admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He was jailed on Monday for seven years.

A charge of attempted murder will lie on his file.

Judge Nic Madge said it was a premeditated vicious attack with a lethal weapon.

He said: “There were other people present – it must have been as terrifying for them as it was for Mr Holly.

“You are lucky that you are being sentenced for causing GBH with intent, not murder.”

The court heard that Stimpson had 14 convictions for 24 offences, and had 28 offences taken into account, mostly motoring offences.