Shropshire Star

Telford alcoholic is sent to prison for knife attack on woman

A father-of-six has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for slashing a woman's nose with a knife.

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Darren Stevens, 43, of Duffryn, Telford, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Stevens, who is an alcoholic, admitted the charge at a previous hearing.

The court heard how on June 21, 2012, a drunken argument lead to Stevens attacking the woman with a kitchen knife.

John Brotherton, prosecuting, said they argued after drinking three litres of cider.

"The defendant struck the woman with his fist, making contact with her face. He then pushed her to the floor and continually punched her with both fists."

He said Stevens got a kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade, squeezed the woman's jaw and held the knife to her throat.

"He told her he could kill her, he then swiped the knife down the bridge of her nose causing it to bleed."

Debra White, mitigating, said: "Mr Stevens is an alcoholic. This is a man who was once addicted to illegal substances and to his credit he overcame that. However, that addiction has resurfaced with alcohol and that is a demon he needs to fight.

The court heard how by carrying out the attack Stevens was in breach of a community order for a separate common assault which took place on November 23.

It was also revealed that Stevens had used a knife on a woman's neck in 2006.

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