A BALACLAVA-CLAD attacker who slashed an old schoolfriend’s face down to the bone with a machete has been jailed for 14 years.

Robert Palmer attacked Roy Salisbury with the blade and a screwdriver or ratchet as he slept at his home in Beaufort Road, Southbourne.

Winchester Crown Court heard Mr Salisbury survived by “centimetres” after the blade struck above his jawline rather than below it.

Prosecutor Kerry Maylin said the victim had awoken in the early hours of Sunday, October 25, last year when Palmer, wearing a balaclava, hit his ankle with the machete and then stuck his abdomen with the screwdriver or ratchet.

The defendant then hit him on the abdomen with the screwdriver or ratchet.

The victim recognised his voice as the two were at school together in the 1970s.

Mr Salisbury attempted to leave the bedroom, forcing Palmer backwards through the door, but Palmer claimed that as his victim closed the door the point of the machete struck Mr Salisbury in the face near his ear.

The victim suffered a “significant” abdominal injury and wounds to his ear that required surgery.

His jaw was plated and a bone fracture reconstructed, muscles were stitched and sutures were required in both tendons and skin.

In a victim statement read to the court Mr Salisbury said he had been left “disfigured”, adding: “It will haunt me forever.”

Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue had been asked to look at Mr Salisbury’s injuries.

The doctor concluded that the main injury to the victim’s face would have been inflicted with “severe” force, likely a “vigorous swing” of the machete.

The victim claimed that during the attack Palmer said “get the drugs out or I’ll kill you then I’ll chop you up" and demanded money, however Palmer said no mention of drugs or cash was made.

Instead he claimed he had been asked to visit the property by a woman who claimed she had been “mistreated” by Mr Salisbury and had given him the front door key.

No one else was charged with an offence in relation to the incident.

Palmer, 53, initially denied offences of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

On the first day of his trial last month the defendant, of Knowles Close in West Drayton, Hillingdon, London, changed his plea to guilty for the grievous bodily harm charge. The charge of attempted murder will lie on file.

He was sentenced on Friday, May 13.

Judge Keith Cutler CBE said only “centimetres” had made the difference between Mr Salisbury’s life or death.

Before being sent down to begin his sentence, Palmer told the court: “I can’t apologise enough.”