AN ex-army man claiming to suffer PTSD has been jailed for more than four years for nearly taking off a woman’s hand with a machete.

The victim endured a four-hour operation after Neil Bower left her with a 15cm-long gaping wound, 4cm deep into her wrist after the sustained and brutal attack.

Bower hacked through two major arteries, tendons and nerves and, despite saving her hand, it is unclear if she'll ever regain the use of it.

The 24-year-old, from Bonhill, previously admitting striking the woman on the body to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment, and to having a set of nunchucks in his possession.

Bower will sever four years and 10 months in prison and be on licence for an extra three years, making it a total punishment of seven years and 10 months.

His victim and her partner were watching TV around 11pm on October 16 in O'Hare, Bonhill, when Bower arrived. She went to bed while her partner and Bower were in the living room, only to awake before 3am to find he was still there.

The woman asked him to leave, but then later called him on the phone and began arguing as he became abusive.

She and her partner went outside to look for Bower, who was waiting armed behind a bin shed and ran out with the machete over his head, missing hers as he swung at her. As she raised her hands to protect her face and head, he struck her on the right wrist.

The woman's partner chased him towards Ladyton Shopping Centre but CCTV caught him.

Bower was finally caught on October 23 but later released on bail, which he then breached on November 7 when he contacted his victim's partner, threatening to burn down her house, her mother's house and another property if she didn't retract her statement. Bower admitted to sending the text message, but not to the contents, which was accepted at an earlier hearing.

Bower later breached bail on three occasions between January 29 and February 15.

Last week, Bower's defence solicitor, Gail Campbell, said her client admitted alcohol was no excuse. He was said to have an "almost lethal combination of substances" in him.

"Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not put forward as an excuse for his behaviour, but it's there," she said.

"He loved the Army - it's all he ever wanted to do. His father said he went overseas and he came back a changed boy.

"He drank pretty much every day and was taking other substances when they became available.

"He knows he is facing some considerable custodial sentence today. He is taking the steps and finally acknowledged after all these years that something is wrong.

"His problems cannot be allowed to affect others. His family are in court and they do not condone his behaviour. They are supportive of him as an individual, not of his actions."

Sheriff William Gallacher noted the previous hearing when the narration of the case was read out, reducing the public galleries to silence.

"You armed yourself with a hideous weapon and you inflicted terrible injuries, not just to one part of her body," he said. "You did that with utter lack of care or regard for that individual.

"Your abuse of a machete pretty much amputated a woman's hand."

Pointing out he had a duty to protect the community and deter others from such offending, he sentenced Bower to four years and 10 months in prison, back dated to May 20. Upon his release, he will be on licence for another three years and if he steps out of line, will be sent immediately back to jail.

His total sentence is seven years and 10 months.