A VANDAL who slashed the tyres of 28 cars and stabbed a man who tried to make a citizen s arrest has narrowly avoided jail. Victim Ronald Reed, 62, approached Patrick Wong, 22, when he saw him damaging the vehicles outside his home in Abbots Way, Ely. He

A VANDAL who slashed the tyres of 28 cars and stabbed a man who tried to make a citizen's arrest has narrowly avoided jail.

Victim Ronald Reed, 62, approached Patrick Wong, 22, when he saw him damaging the vehicles outside his home in Abbots Way, Ely.

He went to grab his arm and attempted to detain him until police arrived but backed away when Wong stabbed him in the hand with a craft knife, leaving a two-inch wound.

Mr Reed, who has had his car stolen three times and windows smashed six times, told Ely ­magistrates on Tuesday that Wong threw his arms up "like the ­Incredible Hulk" and shouted "come on then".

Wong, of The Chase, Ely and his accomplice Jonathon Robinson, 18, of no fixed address. caused £4,000 damage.

Matthew Greene, mitigating, said that at the time of the incident, on October 26 last year, Wong's life "was in disarray".

He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act in December and was regularly hearing voices, and had been treated at Fulbourn Hospital.

Mr Greene said that Wong had a supportive family but had fallen in with "the wrong crowd" and started taking ecstasy and cannabis, but no longer took drugs.

He also said he had been accepted for an accountancy course at Nottingham University, which he would attend if he avoided prison.

Wong admitted causing actual bodily harm and three counts of criminal damage and asked for the remaining 25 matters of criminal damage to be taken into account.

He was given a three-month sentence for assault and one month for each of the three counts of criminal damage. The sentences were suspended for 18 months and will run concurrently.

He was ordered to pay £300 compensation to Mr Reed and £25 to each of the other 27 victims whose cars he damaged.

Wong was also ordered to undergo mental health treatment for 12 months and 18 months supervision by the probation service.

Presiding magistrate Hamish Ross said: "Reading your psychiatric reports you have clearly been through a lot. You have a psychotic reaction when you take drugs.

"If we sent you to prison you might not get the treatment you need. We are trying to help you but our job is to protect the public and you will be sent to prison of you offend again.

"It is vital for yourself and for the people of Ely that you stay off these drugs."

Robinson has admitted vandalising the vehicles and possession of cannabis and will reappear at Ely magistrates' Court on October 2.

He has been remanded in custody after previously failing to attend court.