A DRUG dealer has been jailed for five years after he beat a man with a baseball bat ten times before threatening another with a knife.

Zak Mapes, 22, committed the offence on September 13 last year.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Mapes was with a group of others discussing a stolen television when he started shouting at one of the men.

He then left the area but returned with a baseball bat which he used to strike one of the men ten times.

The court heard Mapes then left with another man but was followed by a man who was making sure they were leaving.

But then Mapes pulled a pocket knife out and said: “I’m going to skin you alive."

He went on to say he would “stick a knife in [the man's] side”.

Prosecuting, John Dier said the attack last September left Mapes’ victim “bleeding from his face and from his mouth and nose”.

He added that Mapes had been “determined to cause serious harm”.

The incident took place while Mapes was subject to a suspended sentence in relation to drug offences.

Police found him at his home on March 10 and spotted a similar knife to the one used in the incident.

It came after Mapes had been found in possession of drugs in 2021 and 2020.

Mr Dier told how Mapes had been found with drugs in December 2020 when asked to stop in New Milton while he was driving his BMW.

Mapes failed to stop and instead took off on foot.

After the escape, a phone containing messages about drug deals was found on a roof.

Then on March 21 in 2021, an officer went to arrest Mapes for a previous incident and again found a mobile phone with similar messages on it.

He also located a small amount of cannabis and £1,480 in cash.

Appearing at court on Friday, Mapes was charged with four offences relating to the possession and supply of drugs, as well as criminal property.

He was also charged with two charges of breaching a suspended sentence, threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mitigating, Paul Walker said Mapes had been subject to abuse when he was younger and that he was only dealing drugs in order to fund his own addiction.

Judge Nicholas Rowland jailed Mapes, of Cunningham Court, New Milton, for five years for the drug offences, breaching the suspended sentence and the attack in Davis Field, New Milton.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News