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A man who attacked a woman with a machete after posting derogatory and threatening comments about her on social media was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years on Friday.

James Murray, 24, whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, carried out the attack which left the victim with extensive wounds to her legs.

Both the Probation Board and Judge Patrick Lynch KC deemed Murray to be a dangerous offender.

Following this assessment, Judge Lynch imposed an 'extended custodial sentence' which includes eight-and-a-half years in custody followed by an extended period of three years on licence.

Murray and the victim had known each other for around 10 years and had fallen out in October 2022, Belfast Crown Court heard.

It was during the evening of 10 January 2023 when the violent incident took place in Belfast.

At around 22:30 the injured party received a call from her friend, who was a former partner of Murray, about social media posts he had made.

Murray made derogatory comments about the victim and her family in these posts and had threatened to "get" her.

After being informed about these social media posts the victim decided to confront Murray as they encountered each other on the street, it was then that he revealed a machete from his jacket.

Fearing for her life, the injured party ran away from Murray where she ran onto a road and was almost hit by a car.

She then ran into a garden but Murray caught up with her, and after swiping the weapon at her head, she fell to the ground.

In a bid to protect herself the woman tucked her legs up to her chest to protect herself as she lay on the ground.

Murray then began to slash her legs with the machete repeatedly and the victim begged him to stop.

The attack stopped briefly and she managed to crawl across the garden on all fours.

Murray then resumed his attack and chopped at her left leg and the assault only came to an end when a resident came out of the house.

The victim recalled being in immense pain as she lost a lot of blood.

She was taken to hospital where she sustained extensive wounds to her legs including a deep lacerations to the back of her left thigh and the lower section of her left leg.

Multiple wounds to both legs and feet were documented by a medic who treated her in an emergency department.

A crown barrister said that the attack resulted in the injured party sustained "residual nerve damage" to her legs along with "long-term scarring".

Murray denied making the posts on social media when he was arrested and answered 'no comment' when questioned about the attack.

He subsequently admitted the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Defence barrister Greg Berry KC said his client Murray's "lifestyle and behaviour was addled by addiction" but whilst in custody he has "made some progress" including seeking counselling.

Murray was from west Belfast and had experienced a "difficult background", according to Mr Berry.

At about 16 he started abusing drugs and he told a Probation Officer he was a 'nasty person' when intoxicated.

Noting Murray had 22 previous convictions, Judge Lynch said this included prior offences for wounding, assaults and possessing a knife in a public place.

The judge said: "It is clear that anger management is a serious problem for this defendant, as had been his use of illegal drugs."

Deeming that Murray posed a significant risk to the public, Judge Lynch spoke of the "gratuitous violence involving the use of a weapon by person incapable of defending herself".

After reading a statement provided by the victim, the judge said it was clear she feared for her life on the night in question and has been left in physical pain with a lasting pyschological impact.

Judge Lynch imposed the extended custodial sentence upon Murray who was taken back into custody by prison staff.