Blackburn man attacked another male with machete after row over electric toothbrush

Blackburn Magistrates Court heard Arthur David Taylor was swinging the weapon at the other man’s head and a witness feared the victim would be seriously injured or even killed.

Taylor, of Parkinson Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court, where he will be sentenced on September 21.

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Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said at 8.45pm on Sunday Taylor was seen walking towards the Havelock pub in Mill Hill with a machete under his right arm. A man called Joe Crawford was standing outside the pub and Taylor began swinging the weapon at his head, the court heard.

“Mr Crawford managed to avoid the blows and the defendant left when other people came out of the pub,” said Miss Allan. “The witness said he feared Mr Crawford would be seriously injured or even killed. It seems there had earlier been a disagreement between the two men in the pub over an electric toothbrush.”

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had been in the pub earlier and had been given grief by a number of men.

“This was not the first time this had happened and amounted to bullying,” said Mr Pickup. “My client accepts that his response in recovering the machete and returning was totally unacceptable.

“He says it was not his intention to harm anyone but he wanted to give them the message to leave him alone.”