Man, 42, attacked neighbours with samurai sword during drunken rampage

A man who attacked his neighbours with a samurai sword in what was described as something "you would watch in a horror film” has been jailed.

Dean Brown, 42, went after Jennifer Robinson, 34, her ex-partner Lance Buchanan, 36, and another man after a row in October last year.

The attacker waved a long blade and a metal pole around aggressively on a street in Somerton, Somerset, before attacking two victims, battering both to the ground.

Ms Robinson, who was knocked out, was left with a broken nose and needed staples in her head after the row, which apparently started when Brown confronted her about an incident involving their children.

Taunton Crown Court heard that the violence started after a row escalated, with Brown’s partner Jodie Brown, 24, throwing some 20 punches at Ms Robinson.

A male neighbour tried to intervene, which prompted Dean Brown to arrive armed with his weapons.

Ms Robinson then called her ex-partner, who was subsequently attacked by Dean Brown – who also attacked Ms Robinson, pushing her into a wall and knocking her out with one of his weapons.

Describing the attack in her victim impact statement, mum-of-three Ms Robinson said: "I used to think the events that happened that day were just something you would watch in a horror film.

"I never thought I would be faced with anyone capable of such utter depravity or would commit such a wicked and heinous act.

"I get flashbacks of the weapons being thrashed around in the air, the sound of them hitting Lance’s helmet over and over.”

She added: "Everything was fine while I was cooking Sunday dinner for some friend. Then a woman was pounding on my door shouting about shoes.

"I didn't know what she was on about but I just kept apologising because she and her partner were really drunk and very scary.

"When we couldn't find her daughter's missing shoes she started screaming and pummelling me and later Dean came out with a sword – I was terrified.”

Ms Robinson suffered a four-inch slash on her head from the sword, while Mr Buchanan suffered severe wounds on his hands, leg and head.

Dean, now of Bishopdown, Wiltshire, was jailed for 25 months earlier this month after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm (GBM), criminal damage and making threats with a blade.

But Jodie Brown, who also pleaded guilty to GBH, remains at large after failing to turn up for sentencing and a warrant is out for her arrest.