Three hurt after dad ran amok with knife
A DAD-OF-TWO with an "unhealthy" interest in knives avoided jail after admitting holding a blade to another man's throat.
Christopher Brennan had taken two knives to a barbecue to show his friends but later "ran amok", a court heard.
He used one of the blades to injure victim Gerald Barnes during a row over the defendant's partner Hayley Hughes.
The 25-year-old also pointed the knife towards Miss Hughes's stomach during the social event at her Meir home and threatened her dog.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the defendant was drunk at the Sandon Road gathering on September 19 last year.
Prosecutor Philip Beardwell said Brennan then started to argue with Miss Hughes.
He went to Mr Barnes, leaned over him and put a knife to his throat. Mr Barnes was cut as he tried to protect himself as Brennan accused him of being in a relationship with Miss Hughes.
"He took off a shoe and threw it at Hayley Hughes and then went to her holding a knife and pointed it towards her stomach," continued Mr Beardwell.
"Others arrived from the garden and another friend, Steven Parker, tried to get him out of the house. They grappled. Brennan had a knife and Mr Parker was left with an injury."
Police arrived at 9.35pm and arrested Brennan nearby. He was abusive to officers and resisted arrest.
Miss Hughes suffered swelling to her nose and pain in her face, Mr Barnes received a cut to his hand and Mr Parker was left with a puncture wound to his left forearm.
Brennan, of Stansgate Place, Hanley, pleaded guilty to affray, possessing an offensive weapon and resisting a police officer.
Nick Tatlow, mitigating, conceded it was an unpleasant and violent incident.
He said Brennan had an interest in collecting knives, which he now recognised was unhealthy and had disposed of them.
The court heard roofer Brennan had resumed his relationship with Miss Hughes and apologised to Mr Barnes and Mr Parker.
Judge Simon Tonking sentenced the defendant to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision, a requirement to attend an alcohol treatment programme for six months and the offender alcohol abuse programme. He must also pay £1,500 compensation.
Judge Tonking told him, in September, he was somebody who was habitually getting drunk and behaving unpredictably.
He added: "You ran amok at the barbecue. Quite why you did so is hard to see, except, in drink, you thought one of the guests was having an affair with your girlfriend."
7 Comments
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by Anon, Stoke
Saturday, March 13 2010, 8:50PM
“peter, Cheshire
Was it not Labour who said "They would ge tough on Knife crime?"........”
by Warren, Meir
Saturday, March 13 2010, 7:51PM
“I also have a interest in collecting knives and other bladed wepons, meny others have to. The main problems is scum like this forget themselfs when 'in drink' and think they a ruddy Zoro, where as most others understand the damage these thigs can do and keep them at home. locked up. Lock this idiot up to.
Anon.... Hanley, I fail to see how the Govenment can be blamed for this, as any Govenment can only set guideliens on sentancing. This govenment as set very strong ones when knifes are involved. The problem is that its up to the counts to impose these guidelines, You sould look at the peformance of the likes of Judge Tonkings and Judge Glenn, not the govenment.”
by Graham, stoke
Saturday, March 13 2010, 3:25PM
“Knife crime should carry a similaur sentence as gun crime......an automatic two year compulsory prison sentence.”
by peter, Cheshire
Saturday, March 13 2010, 2:22PM
“Anon, Hanley.
In what way are Labour responsible for this mans actions and the resulting sentence? Yes that's sentence with an E. Stop trying to politicise every non-story from the Sentinel or are you from another political party or are you just frustrated with your life? Mind you there seem to be a lot of people on this site called anon. Sounds foreign.”
by Mohammed, Hanley
Saturday, March 13 2010, 1:08PM
“Suspended sentence for carrying a knife?? we dont need scum like this on our streets. Great message the judge has just sent out to the rest of the scum out there.”