Drunken plumber stabbed his own mum with a sword after she gave him a lift home from a night out

A drunken plumber stabbed his mum with a sword during a brutal attack after she gave him a lift home from a night out.

David Clayton, 40, had also punched, strangled and bit the woman after telling her he wanted to kill her during the attack. Mrs Clayton eventually managed to break free when a neighbour called round to help.

LancsLive reports that she has since withdrawn her support from the prosecution and did not want her son behind bars.

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The frightening attack took place on January 9 when Clayton had been out drinking and called his mum for a lift, Preston Crown Court heard.

She brought him to her house but struggled to move him in his drunken state and neighbour Paul Smart was asked to help. However, Clayton turned violent and began swinging his arms and punched Mr Smart in the face.

They eventually managed to get him into bed but a while later, after Mr Smart had gone home, Clayton came back downstairs and left the house. He then returned and after banging on the door, he was let in and launched the savage attack.

The court heard that he first attempted to harm himself with a kitchen knife before throwing it on the floor when it bent. As his mum sat on the sofa, he leant over her and said that he hated her and wanted to kill her.

Clayton then repeatedly punched his mum and spat in her face as well as strangling her, leaving her fearing for her life. He let her go but only to take a sword from the wall which he unsheathed and used to stab the woman in her chest.

Mr Smart appeared at the door and Mrs Clayton was able to escape before being taken to hospital. Mr Smart said he had "never seen anyone so scared".

Clayton, who has five