An irate father wielded a machete in a nursery school car park as he attacked a parent in front of onlookers.
David Atkinson (34) was disarmed during the attack, but the two men continued to scuffle and bite each other.
Atkinson fled inside the Muddy Boots nursery, in Bishopdale Road, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, which caused screams of terror from those inside.
Police found him near the reception with a claw hammer in his pocket.
Atkinson, a father-of-four, of Scalpay Close, Beaumont Leys, was jailed for 16 months at Leicester Crown Court.
He admitted possessing a machete, causing actual bodily harm and affray during the attack, on Friday, April 11.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Hammond said: "For the staff, parents and children it must have been terrifying.
"The golden rule is no-one carries a machete in a school. It was a big knife and could kill.
"There was a recent tragedy when a teacher got stabbed to death.
"Anyone who carries a knife on school premises will receive a custodial sentence.
"This happened in a children's nursery when parents and staff were around. The police described the staff as being in shock."
Ian Way, prosecuting, said the victim was in his car while his partner went inside to collect their son.
Atkinson, also there to fetch one of his children, approached him and accused him of threatening his wife.
The man told him: "You've got the wrong person."
Despite being on crutches due to a degenerative illness, Atkinson became aggressive.
Mr Way said: "The complainant got out of the car intending to defuse the situation.
"The defendant began swinging his crutches while shouting and then threw them down and produced a large machete knife from his coat pocket."
The victim retreated as the machete was swung and waved in his direction, until he was backed into a corner.
He "rugby tackled" Atkinson, who went to the floor and the blade was knocked to the ground.
Mr Way said: "The defendant held the complainant in a head lock. The complainant tried to push on his eyes, but the defendant bit his finger. The complainant then bit the defendant on the chest, causing Atkinson to release his bite and the head lock.
"The defendant escaped into the nursery, while the complainant called the police."
Atkinson claimed there was a background to the incident, but the complainant maintained he had never spoken to the defendant before.
The victim suffered a bleeding finger, grazes and a sore neck. He said he had been left shocked and fearful for his family and himself.
Jacqui Callan, mitigating for Atkinson, said: "In his own words he had a complete moment of madness. He's genuinely remorseful.
"He's physically disabled, with Perthes disease, which has affected his emotional wellbeing. He's in chronic pain."
