A Swindon businessman feared for his life when drugged-up "madman" Lee Tatum chased after him swinging a heavy chain - and then produced a knife.

The 42-year-old's chain smashed a window of Ranjit Matharu's van and he then threatened his victim with the knife, saying "I will f***ing kill you," Gloucester Crown Court was told on Wednesday.

Mr Matharu said: "I thought I was going to be stabbed or even killed."

He said the incident in February 2023 had left him fearful for his safety whenever he goes into the town centre, where he runs his business, and he no longer works nights because he is so worried about what might happen.

Tatum was due to stand jury trial on May 22 facing charges of having an offensive weapon, damaging property and having an article with a blade or point, but changed his pleas to guilty at the last minute.

Judge Rupert Lowe sentenced him to 21 months in prison and said:  "Mr Matharu thought this might be it.

"He had come across a madman on drugs with a knife and a chain who was prepared to smash his van and might well kill him."

The judge said Mr Matharu had simply been going about his lawful business in the town when he had the "extreme bad luck" to walk past Tatum and a woman who were using drugs in the Regent Street car park.

Tatum thought Mr Matharu had given him a "dirty look" and was "looking down on him" for being a drug user and reacted with paranoia and violence, said the judge.

"People don't like to see drug users in public places because it doesn't look nice," he said. "It is a reminder of the depths to which people can sink and it also makes them fearful that the drug user will do something dangerous - which is exactly what you did."

"Most people would have been curious and then fearful to see you in that state.

"Mr Matharua had done absolutely nothing but you became aggressive and you followed him. You had a metal chain with you and you swung it at him. He was of course fearful and intimidated by you, not knowing what madness you might be contemplating.

"Mr Matharu retreated to his van and you advanced after him, still no doubt infuriated by the idea that he was looking down on you. You carried on swinging and you smashed the side window of the van. Then you produced the knife."

In a victim impact statement he read from the witness box, Mr Matharu said: "I will never forget what happened to me that day as it is the only time that someone has held a knife and threatened to kill me.

"In that moment, I knew my life was so vulnerable to him. I backed away from any potential attack and called the police."

A few months after the incident, he suffered a stroke and is still recovering.

Defending, Danny Barnard accepted that Tatum has a bad criminal record - 42 previous offences, including 10 for violence.

Tatum had worked as a scaffolder and labourer and shed his drug habit, but the deaths of his father and his grandmother sent him off the rails.

He had got off drugs again since being remanded in prison and now feels remorseful.

Tatum addressed the victim from across the courtroom: "I am very, very sorry about what I did that day. I hope you won't come across any more thugs and bad people.

"I know I don't look good on paper but I am really not one of them. I wish you all the best for the future and I apologise for the circumstances I caused for you and your family."