A man wielding a machete while under the influence of crack cocaine and valium threatened to kill his victim after arriving at his home "out of the blue".
Gareth David, 34, swung the bladed weapon at Jason Hobbs outside the latter's home in Maesteg, Bridgend, on April 5.
Fortunately Mr Hobbs did not suffer any serious injury, but he said the incident "frightened him to the core" and he "couldn't have imagined it in his worst nightmare".
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday was told the victim heard a "pounding" at the front door which continued getting faster. He was unsure of what was going on and thought it may have been the police.
Prosecutor Emma Harris said as Mr Hobbs went to answer the front door he heard the window smash and when he held the door ajar he could see David running towards him holding a machete above his head and swung it at him.
He jerked backwards, believing he was going to be attacked and the defendant said "Get out here you c***, I am going to kill you". The victim shut the door, but David continued to charge at it and damaged another window.
The police were called and the defendant was arrested the next day at his home. He initially denied the offences and claimed it was a case of "mistaken identity".
But David, of High Street, Nantyffllon, Maesteg, later pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, possession of a bladed weapon and criminal damage.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Hobbs said: "I feel very fortunate the only damage caused was to my property, if Gareth managed to get in I don't know if (I) would be alive. The attack took place out of the blue.
"I find it difficult to leave the house without fear of something happening to me, even though I know he's in prison the fear is still there. I have been drinking more often to get Dutch courage to leave the house and we had to temporarily move house.
"I don't feel it's the end of it and I have serious concerns he will continue to try and harm me."
The court heard the value of the damage caused to the Hafod Housing property was £445.
Defence barrister Christopher Evans said his client had a "different side to him" and "very much regrets" his actions on that day, and is "ashamed of himself". He also described the incident as "out of character".
It was also revealed David had been misusing drugs for a number of years and was under the influence of crack cocaine and valium at the time of the offence.
Sentencing, Recorder IWL Jones said: "This must have been terrifying. The victim said he had been frightened to his core and couldn't imagine it happening in his worst nightmare."
David was sentenced to a total of 18 months imprisonment and was made subject to a 10-year restraining order.
