A row between two drivers over a parking space escalated into serious violence when one attacked the other with a hammer, a court heard.

Liam Quach grabbed the tool and struck David Walter on the side of the head “with considerable force”.

Quach, of Church Road, Hartley, Longfield, was sentenced to two years youth custody after being convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

He was acquitted of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He denied both charges.

"He certainly did not deserve what happened next, because the next thing he was aware of what he describes as a tremendous blow to the left forehead" - Prosecutor Tom Dunn

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Walter was waiting in his Fiat for a parking space to be free in Station Road, Longfield, at lunchtime on April 10 2014 so that he could pick up his partner June Blackwood from a bakery there.

Prosecutor Tom Dunn said just as Mr Walter was about to move into a space Quach, 20, nipped in first in his VW.

Mr Walter accepted it made him angry and heated words were exchanged with Quach.

“Mr Walter drove off for a short distance, parked in an adjacent road and unfortunately returned on foot to continue to remonstrate with the defendant,” Mr Dunn told the jury.

“It may be that by this stage Mr Walter was angry and somewhat confrontational. Perhaps he should not have done so and no doubt he could, and perhaps should, have handled the situation differently.

“But he certainly did not deserve what happened next, because the next thing he was aware of what he describes as a tremendous blow to the left forehead.

“He moved back and has his eyes cleared he saw that Mr Quach was holding a hammer. He threatened that he would ‘crack’ Mr Walter’s head again.”

Quach swung the hammer towards the victim but did not make contact.

Mr Walter was bleeding profusely from a wound to his head and drifting in and out of consciousness.

One witness, Jessica Chambers, told of seeing Quach swing the hammer at Mr Walter and strike him on his forehead near his left eye.

She described the force used as eight or nine out 10. She called the police.

Mr Walter was taken to Darent Valley Hospital and treated for a 3cm cut to his temple, which needed stitching. A scan confirmed there was no fracture.

He later suffered bouts of dizziness, constant headaches and “temper swings”.

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