A DISABLED pensioner who was attacked by an neighbour with an axe, has told how he was able to fight off his younger and fitter assailant.

Andrew Greaves said his partner had been left terrified after the assault by Mark Benson on New Year's Eve last year.

But he added that they now hoped for a reprieve after Benson received a 10-month jail term yesterday.

It followed a long-standing grudge, dating back nine years, which was described in court as starting when Benson sided with Mr Greaves' now ex-wife over a matter.

A five year restraining order is now in place preventing Benson from having any contact with Mr Greaves.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: "It wasn't so much a grudge - he took offence to me nine years ago and there have been issues ever since."

Describing the attack itself, he said that he'd been able to fend Benson off as he wielded the axe, even managing to wrestle the weapon off him through the broken glass in the front door.

"I was actually barefoot at the time, and I am fighting these two people off - one a black belt in karate - while standing in broken glass."

He admitted that he still had nerve damage to his neck as a result of the attack and that they both were receiving psychological treatment.

"It's been absolutely terrible for us. It's been hard for the past few weeks as his bail conditions were changed and he was allowed back in his house.

"I could see him sat in his garden, but my partner is relieved that now we know where he is for five months and he can't come to us."

Yesterday Bradford Crown Court heard how Benson, of Langley Lane, Baildon, and his partner had turned up at Mr Greaves' home after the pair had been out drinking on December 31 last year.

Swinging the axe, he connected with Mr Greaves shoulder, leaving behind cuts, as well as shattering the glass in his neighbour's front door and the front window.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson outlined how Benson's partner Lynda Blewitt had first approached Mr Greaves' home, three doors down from the defendants, at around 10pm on New Year's Eve.

Mr Greaves did not recognise her and opened the door, but she shouted: "We are coming for you", and wagged her finger.

At his point he spotted Benson walking up the path with an axe in his hand. Benson said "I'm going to kill you", Mr Nicholson told the court.

Cement planters were thrown through the front window, breaking the glass and damaging the table in the living room.

When police officers arrived at Benson's address to arrest him they were blocked from entering by Blewitt, who mistakenly believed they could not enter without a warrant.

Benson also put up a violent struggle as the officers tried to arrest him, with one officer being knocked to the ground and having to resort to using a Taser on him.

Benson pleaded guilty to affray, criminal damage, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. He was jailed for ten months and a restraining order was imposed preventing him from any contact with the 69-year-old disabled pensioner for five years.

Blewitt, of 51, of East Drive, Pontefract, admitted obstructing a police officer and was conditionally discharged for two years.

In mitigation, the court heard that both defendants had been drinking and that the behaviour was totally out of character and was unlikely to be repeated.

Benson was described as having ongoing mental health issues, and had been reeling from the death of his mother and news that his father was terminally ill.

The defendants have since accepted an offer on their house, in order to move away from the area, the court was told yesterday.