A man who attacked his former partner with a machete at Wacol in Brisbane's west two years ago has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Muhumed Samow Ali, 53, was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in March for attempted murder.

Ali drove his car head-on into the woman's vehicle after following her from a nearby train station in September 2015.

The 45-year-old woman was hit seven times in the back and head as she tried to flee.

She suffered a 6-centimetre gash and fractured skull during the attack.

During his trial, the court heard witnesses threw items at him and used wheelie bins to push him away.

During the sentencing hearing, Justice Roslyn Atkinson said there were a number of witnesses to the "vicious and cowardly attack."

"This was an offence committed in public, on a defenceless woman who wanted the relationship to end," she said

"She's just innocently going about her business dropping her children at the railway station," she said.

Justice Atkinson said the woman was entitled to end the relationship without fear of violent retribution.

"He collides into her car to stop her, hard enough to make the airbag inflate, and then chases her around a suburban street with a machete, intending to kill her, until he's stopped by some neighbours," she said.

"It was only the intervention of others, whose bravery I commend, that stopped your actions and saved her life."

Muhumed Samow Ali's supporters leave the Supreme Court in Brisbane. ( ABC News )

Ali had pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle, going armed in public and unlawful assault, but not guilty to the more serious attempted murder charge.

After two days of evidence, the jury took less than four hours to convict him

Defence barrister Ben Power told the court Ali was born into rural poverty in Somalia.

He said his family farm was attacked by rebels and he spent 15 years living with his family in a refugee camp in Ethiopia and had suffered a lot of tragedy.

The 45-year-old woman was hit seven times in the back and head as she tried to flee. ( ABC News: Leonie Mellor )

"This is a man who, on the evidence, was suffering from some form of reactive depression or PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]," Mr Power said.

"He is not somebody of prior bad character, he is not a callous or controlling person."

Crown prosecutor Sarah Farnden told the court there was a level of premeditation because the machete was in his vehicle.

"The defendant did not stop after inflicting that blow … until others stopped him," she said.

"That fear has been ongoing for the complainant."