A man’s arm was cut through to the bone with a machete after a drinking session in Margate, a court heard.

Following the incident, the weapon was abandoned only to be found by a member of the public who handed it into the police.

Officers arrested Jake Gilbert, 20, who appeared for sentence at Canterbury Crown Court having admitted wounding Rory Osbourne last October.

Although considering immediate custody, Judge Timothy Nash said he had been persuaded a suspended sentence with conditions would be in everybody’s best interests and sentenced Gilbert to 11 months, suspended for 12 months with supervision.

He must do 200 hours unpaid work and attend a 60 days activity requirement which will help with education, training and employment.

Paul Cavin, prosecuting, said Gilbert had been drinking with Mr Osbourne and another man when an argument flared up and Gilbert returned to where he was living in Margate and armed himself with the machete.

“Accounts differ as to how the wound was inflicted but he hid the machete in the park opposite and when Mr Osbourne came out, it was a mixture of accident and self defence, Gilbert saying Mr Osbourne was armed and he was defending himself,” said Mr Cavin.

He said a witness had seen Mr Osbourne and another man chasing Gilbert and they were armed although Mr Osbourne claimed he wasn’t.

The police were called and Gilbert traced after the machete was found by Newgate bridge between Margate and Palm Bay.

Shauna Ritchie, for Gilbert, of Barneshole Road, Gillingham, said at the time was at a low ebb, drinking too much and not controlling his temper or emotions.

He now recognised excessive drinking and taking substances caused inappropriate behaviour and had drastically reduced his intake, she said. He had started working as a bricklayer and moved away from Margate and accepted that arming himself was an irresponsible way of dealing with things.

“At the time his fear was, having been chased to his address, that his family would be subject to attack from the two individuls who were chasing him,” said Miss Ritchie.

Sentencing Gilbert, Judge Nash said Gilbert had returned home and got the machete and was bent on evening the score.

“It was quite unacceptable conduct. But the best approach is for me to take the course recommended in a pre-sentence report and reluctantly I am persuaded it would be in everybody’s interests to do so.”

The man who found the machete, Raymond Patterson, has been recommended for a £500 High Sheriff Award, for his actions on handing the weapon into the police. Judge Nash said it was public spirited because without it, the police would not have traced the defendant.