Thug hid Machete in JD sports bag before leaving a stranger with life changing injuries

Chad Hatton was pulled off his bike by two men he had threatened after the unprovoked attack

An unprovoked machete attack in Blackpool has left a man with life-changing injuries.

The attack has left the victim, David Foster, struggling to carry his children and has him considering changing jobs after he was brutalized by Chad Hatton back on the 24th of July 2022. Preston Crown Court heard how Hatton swung the two-foot weapon at Mr. Foster, inflicting a wound that was so deep that it left medics fearing an artery had been severed

Hatton, 26, has been given a 10-year sentence for the attack. Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham said: "This was an extremely serious and sickening injury. It was a horrifying weapon."

Stephen Parker, Prosecuting, said that Mr. Foster and his wife had been arguing at around 11:30 pm, after leaving Ma Kelly's Mrs. Foster walked off in front of Mr. Foster who shouted at her to slow down.

Hatton, who was riding bikes in the area with a friend, hearing Mr. Foster shout to his wife, Jumped off his bike and ran in front of him, pulling the machete from a JD Sports bag he was carrying with him and swinging it twice at Mr. Foster's arm.

• Chad Hatton

Mr. Foster carried on walking as he was initially unaware he had been injured but then wrapped a top around the wound to try and stem the flow of blood.

After the attack, Hatton and his friend got back onto their bikes and rode away, around 40 minutes later, Hatoon took offense at comments that had been made by two men as they were walking past a McDonalds, with Hatton having said: "Don't make me get this out of the bag", before showing them the machete.

Hatton was then chased by the men and pulled from his pushbike, with them picking up his bag that had been dropped on the floor. The men then flagged down a police car and handed the weapon over to them.

Hatton was arrested, later claiming that he had been given the weapon by his friend shortly before the attack happened on Mr. Foster. He tried to reason the attack by saying he was intervening in a domestic abuse incident between the couple. However, CCTV showed clearly that Mrs. Foster was some distance ahead of her husband and was under no risk of any form of physical violence happening, with it being a simple falling out.

Mr. Foster, in a victim impact statement, said that the injury had left him with a horrifying scar and had affected his strength in his dominant arm. The attack has left him struggling to pick up his children and he is now considering a change in jobs due to the effects the attack has had on his physical and emotional well-being.

"This attack has affected my whole life", he said. "Prior to this I was confident and self-assured but since the attack, I have experienced a lack of self-confidence and anxiety."

Hatoon, of Station Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to GBH with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Defending, Anthony Parkinson. said Hatton has put his time whilst on remand to good use and us working with the drug and alcohol team, he said before the attack Hatton had downed half a bottle of vodka, but he now recognizes there may be risks associated with him drinking.

Hatton was handed a 10-year sentence by the judge, which comprises six years and nine months of custody and three years and three months of an extended license period.

Sentencing, Judge Altham said: "I note that members of the public were also close to the scene. This was a wholly unprovoked attack.

"Having inflicted this horrifying injury, he held onto the machete and even used it to show to others in a hostile exchange. It is further aggravated by the fact he was drunk and it happened in a public place where there were people who were likely to be extremely concerned."