Man jailed after launching 'savage attack' on friend because he refused food

Mark Maxted has been jailed for eight years following the attack.
-Credit: (Image: Nottinghamshire Police)


A man headbutted, punched and strangled his old school friend after he refused to eat leftover food with him. Mark Maxted was staying at his former school friend's home as a favour, and when the pair returned to the house the attack began.

Maxted, 54, became suddenly aggressive after his friend refused some food the pair had ordered earlier in the day. Maxted proceeded to headbutt and punch his friend after his refusal to indulge. This led to a further escalation where the victim was strangled and had his hand bitten while trying to defend himself.

The assault continued to escalate with Maxted picking up a glass bottle and repeatedly striking his victim on his knee and head with the item. The victim, also in his 50s, was left with injuries to his face, knee and required multiple operations to his hand that was injured in the assault.

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Maxted then fled the property following the attack that took place on March 27, 2022, in Rainworth, but was subsequently caught by Nottinghamshire Police.

Maxted denied the charge of wounding with intent, and he stood trial for the offence at Nottingham Crown Court in June 2024. The jury found the attacker guilty following a week-long trial, and he was sentenced on Monday, September 9.

Maxted, of HMP Nottingham, has been jailed for eight years and will have to serve a further four years on licence and additionally he was issued a indefinite restraining order preventing him from any further contact with his old school friend and victim.

Detective Constable Chloe Baugh said: “This type of behaviour simply cannot be allowed to go unpunished and has absolutely no place in our communities. Despite the mounting evidence against him, Maxted consistently denied doing anything wrong, but couldn’t fool the jury in the trial that followed.”