A man who launched a frenzied knife attack on his housemate following an argument about him playing music too loud has been jailed for five and a half years.

Michael Taylor, 44, attacked the victim with a large bread knife at the house they shared in Hallaton Road, Peterborough, on the evening of July 31 last year.

Earlier in the evening, the victim and Taylor had argued over the latter playing loud music.

Taylor then confronted him in the garden, armed with the knife and with another smaller knife in his back pocket.

He slashed his arms and face, causing him to fall and continued the attack as he sat on top of him.

Another resident at the property saw what was happening and helped to disarm Taylor.

The victim suffered a number of minor slash marks to his face, back and arms. A slash to his right hand required stitches, a slash to his left arm required sterile strips and other cuts were glued.

He is still recovering from his injuries more than six months later.

Taylor was arrested and initially claimed he was acting in self-defence and a trial was due to take place but he eventually pleaded guilty to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

On Friday, he was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Peterborough Crown Court.

DC Neil Gasson, who investigated, said: “This was a premeditated, frenzied and sustained attack which could have resulted in far more serious injuries for the victim had it not been for the intervention of another housemate.

“The victim was unarmed and defenceless but Taylor continued to and claim self-defence throughout the investigation.

“It was a harrowing ordeal for the victim who still lives with the mental and physical scars and I am satisfied that the sentence reflects the true seriousness of Taylor’s actions.”