A FLINTSHIRE man attacked his brother-in-law with an axe after 'drinking through the day', a court heard.

Linas Urbutis, 35, of Bagillt Road appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, March 23.

He had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possessing a knife/bladed article in a public place during a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on February 17.

David Maidstone, prosecuting, told the court that the incident in question took place following a family barbecue held at the defendant's address on July 2, 2022.

Urbutis was said to have been 'drinking through the day' and, once the party had finished he and his brother-in-law, Tadas Paskevicius, were in the back garden alone.

Some time between midnight and 1am, Urbutis headed to his shed and returned with what was described in court as an axe with 'a lengthy handle' but a 'small head'.

He told the complainant 'you need to leave', to which the latter thought he was 'joking'.

But, Urbutis then struck the wooden arm of the chair with the axe before aiming a swing at Mr Paskevicius' head.

It was then that the latter sustained an injury to his elbow, when he put his arm up to defend himself.

The defendant then followed his brother-on-law out onto the street, still carrying the axe, before calling him a 'grass' as he would not return to his property to discuss what had just happened.

The court heard that Mr Paskevicius sustained a 'small laceration' to his elbow which was dressed at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Mr Maidstone said that the attack was said to have been 'out of the blue' but added that the defendant's wife (complainant's sister) had given a personal statement to say she had overheard the pair arguing earlier in the day.

CCTV on the property showed Urbutis handling the axe, but did not show the incident.

When police arrived at the scene, a 'trail of blood' was found but the axe was never recovered.

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A victim personal statement from Mr Paskevicius said that he 'did not know why' the attack had happened.

He added that the cut to his arm had left him with 'pins and needles' and 'muscle spasms' which he had never had previously.

Mr Paskevicius also said that the incident forced him to be off work for three weeks, making it 'hard to pay the bills'.

He said that during the incident, he had 'feared for his life' and that he doesn't think he will ever 'trust' Urbutis again due to the attack being 'so violent' and 'over the top'.

Richard Edwards, defending Urbutis, said the defendant feels he 'saw red and anger took over'.

He adds that Urbutis 'knows it was foolish' and is 'full of remorse' and 'disappointed in himself' following the incident.

He was described as a 'hard-working' and 'family-orientated' man in court and is also said to have given up drinking alcohol since the incident took place.

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Judge Rhys Rowlands said that both men were 'very lucky' that the injuries sustained during the incident weren't serious.

The defendant was sentenced for the unlawful wounding charge alone, for a period of 18 months which was suspended for two years.

Urbutis must also complete 10 days of rehabilitation and pay Mr Paskevicius compensation of £750, as well as £500 to the court.