Attack on man leads to prison

A MAN who burst into an Oldham home and attacked the occupier with his fists and a knife, has been jailed.

Paul Burrows (48) got into the flat in Middlefield through an unlocked door, while his victim Tony Sharp was dozing.

He punched him in the head, knocked him to the floor and then began kicking him.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that there was then a scuffle, during which Mr Sharp suffered a cut to his wrist from the knife Burrows produced.

The court heard that there had been a history of ill-will between the two men, and that earlier on the same day on October 3 last year, Mr Burrows had been hit with a brick thrown by Mr Sharp.

Mark Kellet, prosecuting, said that the later attack happened shortly after 9pm when Mr Sharp’s girlfriend and her friend — a former partner of Burrows — had gone out to to buy drink.

Adam Roxborough, defending, said that following the first incident Mr Sharp had told Burrows: “Come on, we’ll sort it out.” He took that to mean that Mr Sharp wanted to fight him, so went round to his home later to confront him.

Mr Roxborough said he had taken the knife to reinforce threats he intended to make, but had never intended to use it.

He said the incident had been the culmination of a long-standing dispute, but his client accepted it was no excuse for what happened, and he admitted his behaviour had been wholly inappropriate.

Burrows, of Sing Street, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and being in possession of a knife.

Burrows was sentenced to 21 months in prison for inflicting grievous bodily harm, and 12 months for possession of the knife. The terms will run concurrently.

Judge Lesley Newton told him: “You went round there to sort him out and lunged at him with the knife. I accept that you were not carrying it to cause injury.

“Nevertheless, carrying, let alone using a knife is very dangerous. Most people with knives don’t intend to use them, but when an incident like this happens, particularly when drink is involved, there can be the most appalling injuries or even death.”