A HOMELESS man who launched a savage and unprovoked attack on a fellow rough sleeper with an axe has been jailed.

James Ward, of no fixed abode, was led into Oxford Crown Court in handcuffs, flanked by prison officers, as he faced a charge of assault yesterday.

The 42-year old had initially denied striking his victim with the blunt end of the implement in the 'sustained' assault, but in a change of heart he admitted one count of assault by beating.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing that Ward, who was has lived homeless for a number of years, had been friends with his victim Clough Dent in the months leading up to the attack.

On the night of November 22 last year at about 11.30pm , the court heard, Ward and Mr Dent were both camped out at a homeless community site on land near to Minty Beds, off Botley Road, Oxford.

Following a perceived slight against him Ward approached the tent belonging to Mr Dent and grabbed an axe which was lying on the ground outside.

He then without warning struck the axe at the tent, tearing an opening into it, before proceeding to mercilessly beat his victim in what prosecutors described as a 'sustained' assault.

During the attack which lasted some minutes Mr Dent was dragged out of the tent before he was hit on the back of the head with the axe a number of times/

After some time while the brawl continued two other homeless people who were staying at the site handed Mr Dent a mobile phone which he then used to call the police.

Officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and Ward was arrested.

In a victim personal statement read to the court Mr Dent said: "This incident has really affected me, it has left me in a lot of pain. This was a random and unprovoked attack."

He added that it had been a 'frightening' experience for him to go through and that the site had been his home for two years and that as a result of the ordeal he could no longer go back to where he had found shelter.

The court heard that Ward also had a history of low level violence including previous convictions for battery and numerous assaults as well as a number of public order and criminal damage offences in the city.

In mitigation, Lucy Tapper said that her client simply wanted 'to be alone' and added that his solitary lifestyle would mean that he was unlikely to re-offend in the future if he was spared jail.

She said: "Mr Ward lives a solitary lifestyle, he doesn't wish to live with others, he wishes to live on his own and I don't think he will trouble others again."

Jailing him Record Nigel Daly told the court: "However this started you had an axe on you and it is fortunate that you used the back end of that.

"It was a repeated attack and this could have been a lot worse."

Interrupting the judge following his sentencing he angrily shouted: "I am not stupid but I won't have someone hold a knife and threaten me and my dog" before he was led away by court staff.

Ward was jailed for a total of 19 weeks and must pay a victim surcharge.