A man pulled out a knife in a corner shop before being chased down the street and stabbed in the head with a machete.
Michael Walker brandished the knife in front of shocked customers, including terrified children, after a row erupted over parking. His neighbour then attempted to run him over with his car and "hacked" at him with the fearsome weapon.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Tuesday, that an altercation had occurred between the 34-year-old and Steven Doyle on June 1 this year. The dispute is said to have centred on the parking situation - Mr Doyle being his partner's next door neighbour - and the two parties' respective children, and resulted in criminal damage being caused and Walker being threatened with a machete.
READ MORE: Thug stabbed A-level student at party after argument with ex
At around 2.30pm the following day, the defendant entered the Go Local Extra store on Roughwood Drive in Kirkby with his partner and her 12-year-old son. Inside, an argument broke out between him and Mr Doyle's girlfriend Cheri Hulme.
Walker - of Stavordale Road in Moreton, Wirral - then produced a "very large kitchen knife" from the waistband of his shorts, held the weapon above his head and made a stabbing movement in a downwards motion. The court was played CCTV footage of the incident, which showed a child on a bicycle only metres away when he brandished the blade and his frantic parents beckoning the youngster away.
Members of the public intervened and the knifeman left the premises. But he was then chased away in a black Vauxhall car which mounted the pavement and "tried to run him over". Mr Doyle is said to have then got out of the vehicle and begun "hacking" at Walker with a machete, who was left with blood "spurting" from his head.
He still has a scar on the left side of his forehead as a result of a cut, as well as nerve damage to his left thumb. The car in question was later found burnt out, having apparently been torched.
After being arrested, Walker - who works at Knowsley Industrial Estate-based plastics recycling firm Tradebe - admitted under interview that he had pulled the knife out and said "it was stupid but he was angry". He added that he had had to push his stepson out of the way of the car in the aftermath of the incident in the shop.
Jim Smith, defending, stated that his client has suffered from mental health problems since the death of his sister in a crash. He added that Walker had armed himself after seeing Mr Doyle getting into his car while carrying a knife earlier in the day.
Mr Smith told the court: "This decision by the defendant is out of character. He deeply regrets it and is sorry for it.
"The dispute escalated to to a level which was completely unexpected and unprovoked in nature. He was substantially concerned for his welfare.
"He did not attend there knowing Ms Hulme was at the shop. It wasn't prompted by this defendant.
"It no way excuses him for carrying a knife or producing it in dangerous circumstances, but it places the situation into context. The way he was producing it was to show the lady he was armed for self protection rather than using it to try and commit an assault.
"He can't believe he acted in the way he did. It is unlikely this sort of incident will reoccur."
Walker has four previous convictions for four offences, including being jailed for eight months for affray as a 19-year-old in 2007. He has not been before the courts since 2017 for possession of cocaine.
He blew a kiss to his partner in the public gallery as he was led down to the cells, having been jailed for a year after admitting affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Sentencing, Recorder David Knifton said: "These offences have an inexplicable background.
"Some sort of argument appears to have taken place, apparently initially a dispute concerning parking and your respective children. You went into the local shop having armed yourself with a large kitchen knife.
"You came across Cheri Hulme and there was an argument between the two of you, in which I accept she was reinforcing his threats to come after you. She was seen making a phone call and shouting at you.
"You responded by producing the large kitchen knife and brandishing it in a threatening manner. You were in a store which contained several other customers and children.
"It must have been a terrifying event for anyone who witnessed it. You took the knife with you as self-defence due to the previous threats made towards you by Mr Doyle.
"You accept your behaviour in the store was reckless and indicative of poor problem-solving and thinking. I accept that the incident was short-lived, you have demonstrated genuine remorse and that there was a signficant degree of provocation.
"When there is a prevailing amount of public concern regarding knife crime, appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence."
Walker must serve half of this term behind bars before his release on licence. The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife and told him to pay a victim surcharge.
It is understood that the machete attack remains under investigation by Merseyside Police. Three others were previously arrested as part of the force's probe, but were later released on bail pending further enquiries.
A 40-year-old man, from Kirkby, was held on suspicion of wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, affray, dangerous driving, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. Meanwhile, a 49-year-old man was detained on suspicion of arson and assisting an offender and a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
READ NEXT: Vile Pets at Home worker found with indecent images of children on phone
Man arrested after shots fired from motorbike on Danger Lane
Man arrested after boy, 4, mauled by dog
Man fighting for his life after being knocked from his bike in crash
Air ambulance lands on beach after man falls off Southport Pier
