Jealous Cheadle lover jailed for attacking 'rival' with nunchucks

JEALOUS James Turner has been jailed for six years after he broke in to his love rival's home and attacked him with martial arts weapons.

Turner worked himself into a rage over his partner's friendship with her ex-boyfriend, Patrick Springbett.

Arming himself with a pair of nunchucks – a Japanese martial arts flail – the 25-year-old burst into Mr Springbett's home and used the weapons to strike him about the head.

Mr Springbett was woken by the terrifying attack at his flat in Bradley Street, Uttoxeter, and suffered injuries to his arms, jaw and head as he tried to shield himself.

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Turner then smashed through a ground floor window and fled to the home of his partner Leah Blurton, who had previously been in a relationship with Mr Springbett.

Pat Sullivan, prosecuting at Stafford Crown Court yesterday, said Turner was arrested and police recovered a pair of blood-stained nunchucks from a drawer in his property.

Turner, of Ness Grove, Cheadle, admitted aggravated burglary.

The court heard that since January this year, the minimum sentence for this type of offence has been raised to nine years.

Judge John Maxwell handed Turner the minimum sentence, reduced by a third after giving him credit for entering an early guilty plea. Turner has no previous convictions.

Judge Maxwell said Mr Springbett had been subjected to a 'most terrifying experience'.

He added: "I have to follow the guidelines unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice.

"It is not open to me to express a view that the guidelines seem to be severe. I have come to the conclusion there is no basis for me to depart from the guidelines – the defendant climbed into the victim's home in the middle of the night when he was fast asleep.

"The defendant felt his relationship was being jeopardised by the continued friendship between his partner and the victim."

Mr Sullivan told the court Turner launched his attack on May 24, after calling his girlfriend and telling her he was going to 'get' Mr Springbett.

Later that night he cycled to Uttoxeter, armed with the nunchucks, and got in to the victim's flat through a window.

Mr Springbett's injuries included a two-inch cut to his head that needed five stitches.

Steven Hennessey, defending Turner, said: "This offence came about because of a rather complicated social arrangement.

"He would say it is not only a background of jealousy.

"He says in his report 'I have always been bullied and I have had enough'."

Mr Springbett was not responsible for bullying, but Turner felt he'd had enough of 'having the sand kicked in his face', Mr Hennessey said.