A man repeatedly knifed his friend to the head following a dispute over milk. Andrew Sackett left Morgan Wynn with eight head wounds and two broken ribs in a brutal attack in Ammanford. One neighbour described Sackett, 44, as looking like he was "possessed".
Prosecutor James Davies told Swansea Crown Court that Mr Wynn had been "drinking pals" with Sackett for about 20 years and would often let him stay over when they socialised. The pair were drinking at Mr Wynn's house on Pen-Y-Banc Road at around 2am on Monday, August 1 last year, when Sackett suddenly became enraged.
Mr Davies said: "Mr Wynn thinks it was some argument over the defendant taking his milk... The defendant started to smash up Mr Wynn's property, breaking his laptop in half, smashing a large TV, breaking his mobile phone.
Read next: Emergency doctor misdiagnosed a 75-year-old woman and then falsified records after she died
"The defendant punched Mr Wynn to the ribs, then used a knife to stab him to the top of the head, causing him to bleed profusely to the extent his clothing was soaked in blood. He made the threat that he would kill Mr Wynn if he pressed charges. Mr Wynn ran outside and was followed by the defendant."
A neighbour woke and looked out of the window to see Sackett "raising his leg to try and kick at something on the ground" before falling against a car. "I've seen aggressive people before but this man was way over the top," said the neighbour. "It was like he was possessed. He had a rage about him."
Another neighbour woke when Mr Wynn and Sackett knocked at his door. Mr Wynn asked the neighbour to call police, while Sackett appeared to be "very drunk and slurring his words". Police arrested Sackett, who was shouting that Mr Wynn "owes me £10k". Mr Wynn denied the incident was "anything to do with debts".
The victim sustained two lacerations to the face, six elsewhere to his head, and one to his thumb. He broke two ribs on his right side and needed around 12 stitches for his injuries. In a statement he said: "I have been waking in the night in a state of panic. I am always looking over my shoulder when I walk to the shops. I have to take painkillers to be able to sleep. I am really worried about what Andrew will do when he comes out of prison and I fear for my life. I am considering moving house so he doesn't know where I live. I was lucky to survive this. He could easily have killed me."
Sackett, of Clos Y Dolydd in Beddau, Rhondda Cynon Taf, initially pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, but admitted the offence before trial. His record includes two actual bodily harm (ABH) convictions for punching people in restaurants, as well as arson, drug offences, knife possession and assaults on police officers. He caused GBH to a woman in 2009 by knocking her out and breaking her jaw. And in 2015 he caused ABH by punching a woman who was left with a possible broken nose.
Matthew Murphy, mitigating, said: "The defendant is extremely sorry for the pain and potential danger of even more serious injuries which could have been caused to the complainant. He must live with the turmoil this causes the defendant himself, where he has a limited number of acquaintances, one of whom is the complainant, whose relationship with Mr Sackett is ultimately at an end. Mr Sackett accepts it is only he to blame for this offence and the termination of the relationship."
The lawyer added that Sackett has paranoid schizophrenia and two days before the attack was an inpatient of Prince Charles Hospital. He said his client "still does not fully understand" why he was at the hospital or why he was discharged. But Judge Catherine Richards said the difficulty of relying on mental health for mitigation was Sackett's "voluntary decision to drink and abuse substances".
Sackett interjected: "I just don't know where you get the idea I drink and abuse substances. Where do you get that from?" The judge replied: "It was the alcohol that I was principally referring to."
Mr Murphy said Sackett had only been drinking once or twice a month before the drunken attack on Mr Wynn. He asked the judge to consider the impact of a lengthy prison sentence on Sackett's paranoid schizophrenia.
Judge Richards told Sackett: "This assault took place in the victim's own home, during which time you also damaged his property. It is further aggravated by the fact you were severely intoxicated, have significant relevant previous convictions and made threats to the victim."
She passed an extended sentence of up to five years in custody followed by a licence period of five years. Two thirds of the custodial term must be served in jail before a parole board can consider whether it is safe for Sackett to be released. The judge also imposed an indefinite restraining order. You can read more of the latest Welsh court news here.
Read next:
Couple with severe learning difficulties devastated to lose custody of their baby
Mum loses custody of six-year-old daughter after 'bleak' neglect
-
Man goes berserk and attacks five PCs who were arresting his brother
Mum who starved son to death will stay in secure hospital 'indefinitely'
Man charged with murdering delivery driver hit by an allegedly stolen van
