A FURIOUS man who threatened a member of staff at Rockley Park with a machete in a case of mistaken identity has been jailed.

Stephen Baxter, of Middlebere Crescent in Turlin Moor, Poole, stormed to the holiday park with the 85 centimetre blade after an allegation was made to him about an assault by employees.

A "terrified" staff member who turned to run suffered wounds to his back as Baxter struck him with the blunt edge of the machete.

Nick Robinson, prosecuting, said the defendant had been told about an alleged assault before he picked up the weapon and rushed to confront the people he believed were responsible.

However, the man hurt in the attack had no knowledge of the incident that had been reported to Baxter.

"The victim feared for his life - he was absolutely terrified," Mr Robinson said.

"He ran away but was cut twice to the back. There was no breaking of the skin."

A member of the public convinced Baxter to drop the machete.

However, Mr Robinson said the defendant "continued to walk around the park in a rage".

"There were numerous children in the vicinity when he was brandishing the machete," the barrister said.

"His behaviour caused a significant fear of violence."

Lucy Plumpton, mitigating for the 53-year-old, called the case "exceptional".

"Within 10 minutes of the conversation [about the alleged assault] he was at the park," she said.

"He had grabbed a machete that had been gathering dust in an outbuilding for some years. Mr Baxter accepts that the victim would have been absolutely terrified."

Baxter admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray and having an offensive weapon in a public place at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He had pleaded not guilty to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent, which was accepted by prosecutors.

The court heard that the 53-year-old has 17 convictions for 42 previous offences, which includes a 2008 conviction for attacking a man with a screwdriver after again hearing an allegation of an assault.

On Monday, March 7, the defendant returned to the court, where he was sentenced to a total of 18 months behind bars.

Mr Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey said: "It is not simply foolishness but wickedness to take the law into your own hands."