An ice cream man attacked his rival with a shovel in front of horrified families over a “turf war” dispute.

The ice cream seller launched an “unprovoked” attack on another van driver after accusing him of nestling in on his “patch” in a west London cul-de-sac.

Thirty-three-year-old Qelik Shiha left his victim needing surgery and unable to feel anything in parts of his hand.

He was convicted of GBH and, on Thursday, sentenced to 30 months in jail.

The dispute occurred just before 7.30pm on April 3 when Shiha, from Lily Drive, drove his ice cream van into a cul-de-sac in West Drayton where the victim was already stationed.

The victim told police that Shiha had jumped out of his van and said “this is my patch” before punching the window of the victim’s vehicle.

The victim, aged in his 20s, attempted to run away but Shiha chased him and struck his hand with a shovel in front of horrified customers.

​Shiha then drove away from the scene in his own ice cream van.

The victim was left with a large, deep laceration to his hand and was rushed to hospital for surgery. But he has partially lost sensation in two of his fingers.

Police arrested Shiha later that evening.

Detective Constable Reda Imane said: "The incident flared up after two ice cream vans drove into South Close that evening at the same time. It was clearly an attempt by Shiha to intimidate a rival business.

"The vicious and unprovoked attack was witnessed by members of the public, including at least one young child, and was carried out in broad daylight. I'm very happy that we have removed this violent individual off the streets."