A man has been jailed for slashing a man's head in a churchyard in Slough, with police saying it was "pure luck" the victim wasn't more severely wounded.

Robort Patchell, aged 51 of Blandford Road South, Slough, has been sentenced to five years and eight months in jail, following a hearing at Reading Crown Court. 

Patchell pleaded guilty to one count of Section 18 GBH wounding with intent, and one count of threatening to cause harm by use of bladed article in a public place. 

The charges relate to an incident on Saturday, March 16,  when Patchell went to the churchyard of St Mary’s Church and approached a group in a threatening manner while carrying a knife. 

He then proceeded to attack a man who was known to Patchell - as it’s thought the two men had some sort of disagreement prior to the incident.

Patchell caused a wound to the victim’s head as he slashed at him with the knife, and then continued to punch and kick the man, before Patchell fled the area. 

Police attended along with the ambulance service and the victim was taken to hospital. The victim has made a full recovery from his injures, according to police. 

Officers launched an investigation searching for Patchell, and he was duly arrested the following day and charged.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ashley Jones, said: “Patchell has rightly been jailed for a significant amount of time for his actions in which he threatened individuals with a knife and viciously assaulted a man.

“It is by pure luck that Patchell didn’t cause more serious injury to his victim.

“It is believed that there had been some disagreement between the men, however Patchell’s actions were completely unacceptable and there is no excuse for what he did.

“We will not tolerate serious violence within Slough and the Thames Valley, and I hope this conviction shows that we are committed to investigating those who carry out serious violence, so that they can be put before the courts to face justice.”