Ludlow attacker wins cut in his jail sentence
A schizophrenic from Ludlow who savagely attacked one victim and lunged at a second with a kitchen knife has had his jail term cut by top judges.
Jason Karl Shaw, 38, of Poyner Close, Ludlow, was jailed for 14 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court on May 29 after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray and possession of a bladed article.
Shaw was at the home of Jonathan Owen in Ludlow on November 30 last year, Mrs Justice Cox told London's Criminal Court of Appeal today.
He "clenched his fists", started shouting and became "very aggressive" so Mr Owen sought sanctuary in the kitchen.
But Shaw followed him, forced him to the floor and got on top of him.
Mr Owen escaped to the living room, but Shaw attacked him again, hitting him twice before the victim was able to escape to a friend's house.
The victim, who has learning difficulties, suffered cuts and bruises, four of his teeth were dislodged and his nose was fractured.
A few days later, on December 2, he was at home with his brother, Michael Owen, when they heard noises.
Michael Owen went out to the garden and saw Shaw making stabbing motions through the fence with a kitchen knife.
Shaw "lunged repeatedly with the knife" towards Michael while he tried to defend himself with a broom handle, the judge said.
The court heard Shaw had 12 previous convictions for 24 offences, including criminal damage, affray and battery.
He had an "established pattern of violent offending linked to alcohol abuse".
Shaw had been unemployed since 2004 due to mental health problems, the judge said.
He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and anxiety disorder which led him to hear voices and have paranoid delusions.
Brendan Reedy, for Shaw, argued his 14-month jail term was "manifestly excessive".
He claimed the judge failed to take sufficient notice of Shaw's psychiatric condition and the role it played in his offending.
Shaw had suffered a relapse before the incidents and stopped taking his medication, the court heard.
Mrs Justice Cox said there was "some force" in the barrister's submissions.
Shaw's relapse had led to a "lack of insight" at the time, which "lowered his culpability", said the judge, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Judge Jeffrey Pegden QC.
Mrs Justice Cox concluded: "In our judgment the total sentence appropriate was one of 10 months imprisonment."
Shaw's appeal was allowed.
