A man has been jailed for more than five years following a violent machete attack in Hitchin.

Levi Simms, aged 30, of Highover Way, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Friday (13 March) after previously pleading guilty to Section 18 grievous bodily harm.

He was handed a sentence of five years and three months in prison, along with a further four years on extended licence.

Serious injuries following attack

The court heard how police were called on 23 November 2025 after reports that a man in his 60s had been attacked with a machete at a residential address in the town.

The victim suffered a significant injury to his nose which required surgery.

Following an investigation, Simms was arrested and charged in December.

Police response

Detective Constable Remi Bekivicius, from the North Herts Criminal Investigation Department, said: "We thank the victim for his support in our investigation and after such a traumatic incident we hope that knowing the offender has been jailed will assist him in his recovery. We fully condemn this act of violence and reaffirm that knife crime is unacceptable in any form in society."

Restraining order in place

As well as the custodial sentence, the court imposed a restraining order preventing Simms from directly or indirectly contacting the victim.

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Police say the outcome reflects the seriousness of the offence and their continued commitment to tackling violent and knife-related crime in the local area.