It was only when the blade was wedged into his hand that he realised what had struck him.

At Campbelltown District Court on Friday, Broadbent was given a minimum sentence of three years and seven months  for the attack.

The court heard that Broadbent and the victim, who despised each other, agreed to meet for a fight at the Unanderra pool car park on the night of October 27, 2013.

But when the Bellambi tradie showed up carrying something in his hand, the other man wasn’t impressed and asked what it was.

‘‘You’ll find out,’’ Broadbent said. The victim called him a coward and walked towards his car but Broadbent followed, swinging the weapon in the air.

He got in and tried to start the car while Broadbent jumped back and forth at the open car window.

The man then shouted and pointed a finger at Broadbent, who swung the weapon as the victim raised a hand to protect his face.

It was only then the man saw the weapon was a sword, now embedded in his right hand.

Despite feeling nauseous and gushing blood, the man drove home, where an ambulance was called.

Broadbent had taken the sword only to scare the man, the court heard, and was shocked by his own actions that night.

Justice Antony Townsden accepted Broadbent initially intended only to scare the victim but that the situation had escalated. He said Broadbent expressed a willingness to address alcohol problems and to undergo counselling.

Broadbent will be eligible for parole on March 16, 2016.