A MAN wielding a hedge trimmer cut his neighbour’s wrist and eye during a “rage” sparked by an argument with his mother.

Darlington plasterer David Taylor was overheard having a “tantrum” before he went into the street and launched an attack on his neighbours.

On Friday, Teesside Crown Court heard that the 30-year-old smashed his neighbour’s van window, threw rocks and hit him with a stick.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Taylor picked up a hedge trimmer, which was switched off, and swung it around. The male victim’s wife was hit by the machinery twice– causing a one inch cut below her left eye and a bigger wound on her wrist.

Mr Newcombe said the defendant, of High Northgate, then went back into the house and emerged chasing his mother and threatening her with a five-inch knife.

Taylor was said to have threatened to kill the female victim during the incident on August 17, this year.

He then smashed the neighbours’ living room window with two bricks before jabbing the knife at his mother.

Mr Newcombe said Taylor barricaded himself in his mother’s house where he continued “smashing up” the home and cut himself.

When police arrived an internal cupboard was alight and Taylor spat at two officers and used a “racial slur” against one.

In an impact statement read to the court, the female victim said the incident had “turned their lives upside down” and the couple no wanted to live in their "forever home".

David Lamb, mitigating, said the defendant’s mother had now moved to “the other side of Darlington”.

Mr Lamb added his client had a “long and complicated mental health history against a background of substance abuse”.

Taylor had previously been detained at West Park Hospital, in Darlington, and was admitted following the offences. A psychiatric report concluded he had suffered a likely psychotic episode.

Taylor pleaded guilty to criminal damage, actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article, affray, racially aggravated assault by beating and common assault.

He denied using threatening words or behaviour, but the prosecution did not pursue the charge.

Taylor has had 31 court appearances for 42 offences including for battery, affray, common assault and possession of a bladed article.

Judge Peter Armstrong sentenced him to 16-months in custody and made a five-year restraining order banning Taylor from contacting his victims.