A FLINTSHIRE man who previously served his country in Afghanistan left another needing hospital treatment following a knife attack, a court heard.

Nicky Rowlands, 35, of Jubilee Road, Buckley, appeared before Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday, April 26.

He had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding during a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Mold Crown Court on March 30.

Richard Edwards, prosecuting, told the court that the incident had taken place on August 12, 2020.

The complainant, Simon Sharp, had been socialising with friends and family at some flats in the Prince of Wales area of Buckley - where Rowlands was also present, but the two were said to be 'unknown to one another' at that point.

After a while, there was an argument within the group and people began to leave.

While walking down the road Mr Sharp and his cousin met two women they knew and were invited into their home.

When they eventually went back outside, Rowlands was waiting for them there and was said to be armed with a 'knife in each hand'.

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The blades were 'around four to five inches' in length, according to Mr Sharp.

Mr Sharp then picked up a chair in an attempt to defend himself as Rowlands began 'slashing' at him.

The knives made contact with the chair and one cut Mr Sharp's left index finger which caused blood to 'spurt' out, the court was told.

The complainant then said "go on then, do it," before the defendant ran away.

Mr Sharp then called an ambulance and the police and Rowlands was subsequently arrested soon after.

At the hospital, Mr Sharp was treated for a three-inch slash wound to his finger, which has left him with scarring.

In a victim personal statement read out in court, he said the incident had left him feeling 'depressed and generally down'.

It added he has also moved out of the Buckley area as a result of the attack as 'he does not feel safe'.

Simon Rogers, defending, said Rowlands was someone who suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of previously having served in the army in Afghanistan.

He added that there had been 'no re-offending' since the incident and that Rowlands had also referred himself for help with drug and alcohol abuse.

Mr Rogers added that Rowlands had not drank since the night of the incident.

Sentencing the defendant, Recorder Neil Owen-Casey said: "It was only by the grace of God that Mr Sharp was not significantly injured."

He added that Rowlands 'seems to be in a different place now' to where he was in 2020.

Rowlands was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and will have to complete 25 days of rehabilitation requirement activities.

He will also have to pay Mr Sharp £250 in compensation and will be under curfew between the hours of 10pm and 8am for a period of four months.