Man jailed for hammer attack in Stockton
Andrew Vickers, of no fixed address, armed himself with a hammer and a large wooden stick to target, and then beat, a man on Westport Close in Portrack.
The 29-year-old, who is believed to have known his victim for almost 20 years, carried out the attack in front of members of the public shortly before 1pm on Friday 4 April.
On Tuesday 15 July, Vickers pleaded guilty prior to his trial starting at Teesside Crown Court.
A judge sentenced him on the same day to 10 years and three months in prison for grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
The court heard how Vickers approached the man and while standing over him, subjected numerous blows to his head inflicting multiple injuries to his face.
Emergency services swiftly attended to the scene including police and paramedics and the victim was taken to James Cook University Hospital.
Meanwhile a manhunt began to detain Vickers who had fled the scene.
He was spotted discarding the weapons as he ran away, and they were located on Queensport Close. A large wooden stick was found on the pavement and the hammer found on the front garden of a property.
Officers were led to a property on Queensport Close where they found Vickers had assaulted a man, aged 69, by kicking and hitting him to the face.
He was arrested by police a short time later on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon and taken to police custody where he was then charged.
Detective Constable Connor Wright, from Stockton CID, said: “Vickers is undoubtedly an extremely dangerous individual who carried out a nasty attack that caused serious harm to the victim.
“In broad daylight, in front of members of the community, he brazenly approached the man armed with weapons to use the hammer to reign blow after blow.
“He then fled the area, leaving the victim with serious, and at one point, life changing injuries.
“What followed was a search to swiftly locate and apprehend Vickers, seize the weapons and to then gather enough evidence that would ensure a prosecution to put him behind bars and remove him from our community.”