Knife threat on Carlisle street caused by 'messy break-up'

Witnesses described seeing 26-year-old Stuart Skinner being driven along a residential street in the city while holding a large kitchen knife as he told the partner of the man he had just assaulted: “I’m going to get out of this car and stab you.”

The defendant, who has now left Carlisle, admitted common assault, criminal damage and making a threat with the knife.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting at the city's crown court, set out the complicated relationship background; this included the victim’s current boyfriend being a former partner of the defendant’s new partner.

Trouble erupted outside a parade of shops in Newlaithes Avenue, Morton, on the afternoon of July 19 last year.

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The first of the two victims noticed his former partner in a car with Skinner outside the shops. At this point, Skinner got out of the car – with his fists clenched – and attacked him, repeatedly throwing punches.

The defendant also grabbed the man’s T-shirt, ripping it as the victim struggled to break free. Skinner was the only person involved in the violence, which lasted between three and five minutes, said Mr Rogerson.

“Both men [Skinner and his new partner] got back into their vehicle and then drove away along Newlaithes Avenue,” said Mr Rogerson. The victim decided to walk from the scene to meet his partner. 

The two met in nearby Westrigg, but then saw Skinner arrive at the scene as a passenger in the car he had earlier got into. 

Shouting through the car’s open window, the defendant, holding a black-handled knife with a seven-inch blade, told the partner of the man he had earlier assaulted: “You see this; this is for you, big boy.”

The man who was threatened in this way told police that Skinner had spoken about getting out of the car and stabbing him. "In that moment," he said, "I thought I was going to be stabbed." 

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Summarising the impact on the first victim, Mr Rogerson said: “Overall, the incident left him extremely concerned and worried.” For a few weeks afterwards, the man had trouble sleeping and worried that Skinner would appear at his workplace.

The second victim said there were difficuties in his break-up with Skinner's new parnter, calling the situation "messy."

Jeff Smith, for Skinner, who formerly worked for The Sun Inn at Pooley Bridge, said he had surrendered himself to the police after the incident.

He told the court: “A messy relationship had ended."

Despite both parties moving on, the victim “on a number of occasions” went back to the house he had shared with Skinner’s new partner.

Skinner had not offended before of since and was capable of rehabilitation, said Mr Smith. 

Judge Richard Archer said there was absolutely no excuse for what Skinner did. When knives are used to threaten others, particularly when there is an emotional background, they can all too easily be used, said the judge.

But given the defendant’s almost immediate acceptance of his wrongdoing, Judge Archer said he was prepared to impose a suspended jail term.

He sentenced Skinner, of Station Road, Seaham, Country Durham, to nine months jail, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also imposed a two-year non-contact restraining order.

Judge Archer ruled that the knife used in the incident – part of a set of chef’s knives -could be returned to Skinner, noting that they were tools of his trade and he could simply purchase a replacement if the knife was destroyed.

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