'Disgraceful' Telford decorator attacked ex's partner with claw hammer
A painter and decorator attacked his ex-partner's boyfriend with a claw hammer during a visit to see his daughter, a court heard.
Robert Laird had taken the tool from his van during a row outside a property in Telford in July last year.
Victim Aram Abdullah suffered an injury to his thumb which kept him off work after the two men struggled during the confrontation.
Miss Amy Jacobs, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court the defendant had been aggressive and abusive and had shouted "you are dead tonight" before getting the claw hammer from his van.
He had tried to hit out at Mr Abdullah, and although he managed to get out of the way he was struck on the thumb.
There was a struggle and Laird was disarmed before he drove away.
He gave himself up to police the next day, the hearing was told.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday, Laird was given a total of 10 months in prison suspended for a year and ordered to complete 120 hours' unpaid work.
Laird, of Wantage, Woodside, was also made the subject of a three-year restraining order preventing him from having any contact with his ex-partner or Mr Abdullah and he must keep away from his former partner's address in Telford.
Judge Peter Barrie told 41-year-old Laird he had been involved in a "disgraceful display of violent temper" and wondered what Laird's young daughter thought of his behaviour.
"This was a catastrophic failure of self-control and you should be deeply ashamed," he said.
He accepted that Laird had gone to the house to see his daughter and had not intended to cause trouble, but he had been drinking.
The court heard there had been problems before when Laird had been in drink.
In an impact victim statement read to the court his former partner said she had been scared and "just wanted him to leave her alone".
Mr Danny Smith, for Laird, said his client had been anxious and emotional on the day and had gone to see his daughter, but accepted there was no excuse for his behaviour.
