A man who carried out a brutal and unprovoked attack on a friend in Rye has been jailed.
Lee Beckett turned up uninvited at his friends’ house on 21 May this year. The three of them initially had a friendly conversation before Beckett’s mood quickly turned.
Without warning, he repeatedly punched the victim to the face. He then retrieved a knife from the kitchen, held it to the victim’s throat and threatened to kill him.
Police were called and Beckett, 57, of Cooper Road, Rye, was arrested and charged with committing grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill.
Meanwhile, the 56-year-old male victim, from Southwark, was taken to hospital, where it was confirmed he had sustained multiple injuries to his cheek, nose and eye socket.
The other person present in the property, a 45-year-old woman from Rye, was uninjured.
Beckett pleaded guilty to the offences and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday 30 September, where he was sentenced to a total of five years and three months’ imprisonment.
He was also given a restraining order against the victim and witness.
Investigating officer, Bernadette Peters, of Hastings CID, said: “This was a senseless and completely unprovoked attack on a man who was left with significant facial injuries as a result of Beckett’s senseless actions.
“I hope the local community can take some reassurance that this violent offender has been removed from the streets and sent to prison, where he has a long time to reflect on his actions.”
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