A MAN pushed a knife through his former partner’s letterbox and shouted: “I will put you six feet under.”
Shelly Pullen and friend Phillip Delaney feared for their lives as Mark Stokes acted “like a madman”, a court heard.
Stokes, 29, of Ty’r Llwyn, Rhos, admitted an affray charge after two allegations of assault were dropped.
Jailing him for 22 months at Mold Crown Court, Judge Niclas Parry said it was a troubling case. “It could have had far more serious consequences,” he said.
“You have to understand it is a matter of increasing concern that knives are being used behind closed doors to inflict offences of domestic violence.
“The court will do everything it can to send out a clear message that when that happens, the consequences will be serious.”
Judge Parry said Stokes was quite literally out of control because of his extreme anger. He was overcome by jealousy and terrifying threats were made. He had armed himself with two knives and the victims feared for their lives during a prolonged incident.
The judge said serious injuries had been caused. It was accepted a cut to his partner had not been intended but in such circumstances “who knows what could have happened”?
Two people had been left injured and a custodial sentence was inevitable.
The judge also made a restraining order that Stokes was not to approach Miss Pullen again or go within 100 metres of any address where she lived.
In his basis of plea Stokes said at no stage did he stab out at Miss Pullen. He accepted causing injuries to Mr Delaney during a struggle but did not deliberately stab him.
Caroline Harris, prosecuting, said all three had been out that evening but there was an argument later in the flat.
Stokes threw a cup and then a glass at Miss Pullen and he later armed himself with two knives.
He was shouting “I am going to kill you” and in a statement to the police Mr Delaney said Stokes was acting like a madman.
Stokes was “really angry and mental”, and Mr Delaney said he tried to intervene but they were injured during a scuffle.
Stokes went outside and the door was locked and it was then that he jabbed his knife through the letter box shouting: “I will put you six feet under.”
Police arrested Stokes at 3am but he continued to be aggressive. When interviewed, he claimed he acted in self-defence.
Andrew Green, defending, said Stokes, who had convictions for 149 previous offences, accepted the sentence had to be custody. He accepted the relationship was over.
Stokes had been following anger management and educational courses in custody and had a trusted job as a prison cleaner.
On his release he wanted to get a job and accepted he would have no more contact with his ex-partner.