Drug-dealing accusation led to horrifying Leeds doorstep machete attack
A pizza shop worker feared he would die after being brutally attacked on his doorstep by a thug wildly swinging a machete.
Marlin Rigby was told by a judge at Leeds Crown Court that he was remorseless and deemed him a danger to the public after the sickening attack in which he rained repeated blows down on the man’s head with the deadly knife.
The victim had previously threatened to tell police about Rigby’s alleged drug dealing.
Rigby, who was found guilty of attempted murder following a six-day trial trial in October, was given an extended 27-year jail sentence this week.
Judge Simon Phillips KC told Rigby: “You were intent on killing him. He was defenceless against you.
“You struck out as he put his key in the lock. It could have resulted in his death. He believed he was going to die.
“It was a determined and prolonged hunting down of an innocent man. You carried out a vicious attack.
“There has been no expression of remorse on your part. You continue to deny involvement.”
Prosecutor Samuel Ponniah said the victim had been initially attacked by 28-year-old Rigby on Esmond Terrace, shortly after midnight on April 3 last year.
It stemmed from the man’s threats to contact the authorities and tell them Rigby had been selling drugs.
Bottles were thrown by both and the victim fled the scene. He later met up with friends outside, one of which received a phone call from Rigby, telling him he was coming to confront the victim again.
Rigby arrived wearing a face covering and holding the machete. He chased the man for three minutes and struck out at him, but he was able to get away.
As the man tried to retreat into his home, Rigby cornered him and began raining the blows down on him with the blade. He suffered lacerations to his hands and arms, and two to his head.
Both head wounds were between 5 and 10cm in length, with once causing a fracture to his skull and the other causing an indentation.
Rigby, of Lodge Road, Armley, then quickly left the scene as the man lay bleeding heavily.
In a victim impact statement, read to the court by Mr Ponniah, he said the victim still suffered from severe anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares and was reluctant to leave his home.
Rigby has previous convictions for violence, the court heard.
Mitigating, Abdul Iqbal KC said his convictions were “of some age”. Restricted by Rigby’s persistent denials, he said that his family “knew of a different side to him”.
Judge Phillips told Rigby that he found him to be a danger to the public. He gave him a 23-year jail sentence, with a four-year extended licence period.
Rigby, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Leeds, gave no reaction after being handed the lengthy sentence.