A man whose stepdad attacked him with a machete leaving him needing staples in his head has spoken out after he was jailed for almost five years.

Scott Bass, 28, was left hospitalised with serious knife wounds after his step-dad Mark Kilpatrick slashed him with the blade during the incident on January 29.

Scott needed seven staples in his head, had a cut down his arm and could see the bone in his thumb where Kilpatrick struck him with the 15-inch blade.

Read more: Man jailed after attacking stepson with machete in Darlington home

The pair had been discussing a family dispute over the rights to Scott’s mum, and Mark’s wife, Karolyn’s home, on Shearwater Avenue in Darlington, when Kilpatrick retrieved the blade from his garage.

“If he wasn’t trying to kill me I’d like to know what he was trying to do and where he got the knife from.”, Scott said.

“He slit my arm open, cut my thumb and left me needing seven staples in my head.

“There was a point where I thought I was going to die.

The Northern Echo: Scott Bass' injuries.Scott Bass' injuries. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“I don’t know if I am going to get full motion back in my hand and I’m only just getting back to going out – I pretty much had a month indoors.

“I’ve never felt so unfit, I used to go to the gym all the time.

“I’m trying to get along with my life as much as I can but mentally it has been really difficult.”

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Scott spent three days in hospital before moving to Durham to have surgery on his thumb and has been having regular appointments and physio to assist his recovery.

He added: “My mum isn’t speaking to me. I rang her as I was going for surgery, but I haven’t heard anything from her since.”

Sentencing Kilpatrick on Thursday (April 13) Recorder of Middlesbrough Paul Watson QC said Scott was “fortunate not to lose” his thumb.

The Northern Echo: Mark KilpatrickMark Kilpatrick (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

Kilpatrick admitted to launching the vicious attack on his stepson Scott during a hearing at Teesside Crown Court last month (February 28). He pleaded guilty to one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of threatening his victim with a blade.

Appearing before the same court on Thursday (April 13) he was jailed for four years and eight months.

Speaking after the sentencing Scott said: “I don’t think it’s a long enough time but at least he’s away. Good riddance to him.

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“Hopefully I can move on a bit now with my life.”

Officers were called to the home on Shearwater Avenue in Darlington shortly before midnight on (Sunday January 29) following reports that a man had been injured.

Bass was taken to hospital having suffered knife wounds. His injuries were serious but not life-threatening.