A MAN with a history of violence who attacked a friend then chased him with a metal pole has been jailed.

Edward Potter was seen swinging the pole around in Abingdon Road, Oxford, after assaulting his friend Jordan Marks.

The 27-year-old then jumped into a lake and climbed on rail tracks to flee police.

At the time Potter was serving a suspended sentence for biting a doorman outside the now defunct Mood Bar in George Street.

Yesterday the father-of-one was jailed for a total of 70 weeks at Oxford Crown Court for the attack in November.

Rufus Stilgoe, prosecuting, said both men had been drinking before Mr Marks staggered into the street and lay down in front of a bus to get help.

Mr Stilgoe said: “Witnesses heard an argument before seeing Potter chase Mr Marks, who had blood on his hands and head.

“After he lay down in front of a bus, Mr Marks received assistance from passengers.

“The defendant then approached him with a two-inch thick metal pole and kept trying to hit him. Members of the public had to intervene to stop him.

“Potter was flailing the pole around and was clearly very angry, and could easily have made contact with a bystander.”

Mr Marks was left with head and facial injuries and looked as if he “had been in a boxing match”, the court heard.

Mr Stilgoe said Potter, who has previous convictions for causing actual bodily harm, battery and wounding, then led police on a two-hour chase.

He said: “The defendant jumped into a nearby river before scrambling onto train tracks on a bridge, meaning a train had to be stopped.

“Potter then jumped into a lake and swam into the middle, before eventually surrendering to police who had pursued him in boats.”

Sophie Murray, defending, said Potter believed Mr Marks had been stealing from his home.

She said: “The root of his problems is probably alcohol. My client hopes that when he is released from custody he can refrain from drinking and be a positive role model for his young daughter.”

Potter earlier admitted affray, possession of an offensive weapon and assault by beating. He was jailed for 45 weeks plus 25 weeks of his original sentence.

In 2009 Judge Anthony King gave Potter a 40-week suspended sentence for biting a bouncer at Mood Bar.

Yesterday the judge told him: “I meant what I said then, but you don’t appear to have learnt.

“Now you must suffer the consequences.”