A KNIFEMAN has been jailed for a slasher attack that left the victim needing 35 stitches in his head and arms.

Dylan Munro from Newton Abbot had a vendetta against his partner’s ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Shepherd, and hunted him down as he walked through the centre of Paignton.

He recruited his uncle Daniel Higham as back-up and the two men attacked 36-year-old Mr Shepherd after he tripped over as he fled from the pair.

Passers-by intervened to stop the attack as Munro pinned Mr Shepherd down and stabbed him repeatedly with a kitchen knife. Higham used a baseball bat to hit the legs and lower body.

There had been an acrimonious family dispute between Munro and Mr Shepherd with an exchange of texts before the attack, in which the two assailants ambushed him in Well Street as he walked with a friend at 6.30pm on January 19 this year.

Munro, aged 23, of Mellowmead, Manaton, near Newton Abbot, and Higham, aged 38, of Ellacombe Church Road, Torquay, both admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Munro was jailed for four years and Higham for three years and four months by Judge Neil Davey, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

He told them: ‘You two decided to inflict serious violence on Mr Shepherd. There had been a background of escalating tension between you, Munro, and him over the preceding days and weeks.

‘There had been messages which were abusive and threatened violence and on the night of January 19, you decided to put an end to the threats and you picked up your uncle with that in mind.

‘You saw him and armed yourself with the knife and baseball bat and set about chasing down and attacking Mr Shepherd. You, Munro, slashed him repeatedly across his head as he put up his hands to defend himself.

‘Higham, you struck him repeatedly about the body. He said he thought he was going to die. The attack continued until members of the public saw what was happening and intervened and you ran away.

‘It is difficult to imagine his scarring across his face will not be permanent.

‘Munro, you carry the greater responsibility as it was your idea. Higham, you used a baseball bat and it is surprising no bones were broken.’

Miss Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said Mr Shepherd needed 19 stitches to wounds on his head and face and 16 to defence wounds on his hands and lower arms.

Texts found on Munro and Higham’s phones showed they had arranged to meet up and look for Mr Shepherd. He told police he could feel the knife scraping against his head but found the pain from the baseball bat almost as bad.

Mr Martin Salloway, for Munro, said he had not taken the knife for the purpose of using it in an attack, but had it in the car and took it with him when he saw Mr Shepherd.

He said: ‘There was some provocation and some background because he was in a relationship with the victim’s ex and there had been an exchange of threats from both sides.’

Miss Rachel Smith, for Higham, said he had not intended to get involved in such serious violence. He went to support Munro and made the mistake of taking a baseball bat when he out of the car.

He has had mental health issues and has tried to swallow razor blades while in prison awaiting sentence.