A teenager involved in violence after a three-year dispute with his Worcester neighbours was told by a judge he had come close to being locked up.

Joseph Drummond hit Marshall Carter on the head with nunchucks – a martial arts weapon – cutting his temple, which needed stitches.

It happened after the victim was visiting his mother’s home along with his young son, said prosecutor Mary Wallace.

Words were exchanged before 19-year-old Drummond went into his house to fetch the weapon.

Drummond, of Carlisle Road, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge Alistair McCreath said the violence was unnecessary.

He said although he was not going to send Drum-mond to detention, he had “come close to it”.

Drummond was given a two-year community order and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Miss Wallace said there was “a significant history” between the families, which culminated in the incident on February 21 last year.

When Mr Carter took his five-year-old son outside into the street he saw Drummond and told him not to intimidate him.

Family members tried to separate the pair before the victim was attacked.

Mr Carter’s step-father then hit Drummond on an arm with a cricket bat, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Nick Roberts, defending, said Drummond, who had no previous convictions, was illiterate and suffered from depression.

He claimed he had struck out in self defence.