Ipswich machete attack man jailed for nine years

Sentencing Luke Mason, Recorder William Clegg said he had caused serious injuries to the victims with a weapon that had been capable of inflicting fatal injuries.

“Each of the men was unarmed and defenceless,” said the judge.

He said the only mitigation in the case was Mason’s age.

Giving evidence during his trial at Ipswich Crown Court Mason said he had been smoking cannabis at the party and at one stage he had left the flat in Duke Street, Ipswich, where the party was being held to get money to buy more cannabis.

He told the jury that when he returned to the party he was told the police had been called and he decided to leave because he had some cannabis on him.

He denied that when he returned to the party he was brandishing a machete which he used to attack Daniel McAlpine and Kieron Pearson.

He denied approaching Mr McAlpine several weeks later and threatening him.

Mason, of Fore Street, Ipswich, denied unlawfully wounding Mr Pearson, possessing an offensive weapon and wounding Mr McAlpine with intent to do him grievous bodily harm on May 30. He was found guilty of all three charges and jailed for nine years.

He also denied intimidating a witness on July 14 and was found not guilty of that charge.

The court heard that Mason left the party after an argument and returned shortly afterwards with a machete, which he used to cut Mr Pearson’s fingers and to cut Mr McAlpine’s arm and two of his fingers.