A BRAVE passer-by intervened to protect a terrified Penrith woman who was attacked by her drunk boyfriend as he brandished a large knife.

A Carlisle Crown Court judge highlighted the bravery of Anna-Marie Nicoletta after hearing that she stepped in to help the woman on a street in Penrith as 31-year-old Brendon McIvor verbally abused and threatened her.

At one point, the court heard, McIvor kicked his girlfriend in the face while holding the knife.

He also sliced open her leggings, wounding her leg, before making the chilling comment: “I told you it was sharp.”

McIvor admitted an actual bodily harm assault and threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place. Prosecutor Brendan Burke outlined what happened.

At the time of the offending, on May 29, McIvor and the woman he assaulted were in a relationship.

The trouble began at the home they shared at 8.30am that day, when the defendant was already drunk, said Mr Burke.

“He was, as she puts it, scaring her with a knife,” said the prosecutor, describing the blade in question as a “large butcher’s knife.” “He was shouting at her, telling her to leave the property.”

He pushed her out of the door, throwing her bags after her. She did as he suggested, leaving the property and going outside and sitting on the steps of the NFU building on a nearby street.

Once she was gone, he changed his mind, decided he wanted the woman to come back to the property. He called her 44 times, leaving messages demanding she return.

When she did not, he went to look for her, finding her sitting on the steps.

“He was waving the knife around,” said Mr Burke. “He was incoherent, talking having the freedom to go where he wants. He used the knife to cut through her leggings, nicking her leg.”

It was at that stage that he made the comment about the knife being sharp. Mr Burke continued: “She was frozen with fear – the words she used.

(Image: Newsquest)

"She was also terrified; it was her expectation that he’d use the knife to stab her properly.

“She telephoned the police, using the phone which, when he first arrived, he had tried to grab from her. He asked her: ‘Do you think the police will get here before I cut you over?

“He kicked her fully in the face to the mouth and nose while still brandishing the knife in his right hand.”

The woman suffered “significant” facial injuries. At this point, Ms Nicoletta intervened, remonstrating with McIvor. This prompted him to attempt to justify his actions, accusing the victim of being unfaithful.

Police later found the defendant at his property, where he jumped from the bathroom window to escape. He also tried to justify what he had done to the police officers.

Mark Shepherd, defending, said what happened was “genuinely totally out of character” for the defendant, who was himself shocked by and ashamed of how he had behaved.

A complex individual, who was socially isolated, who was afflicted by crippling social anxiety. He had lived his life “in the shadows,” working nights, doing a responsible job for several years.

“He has been transparent with the Probation Service, and recognises that he has something of an alcohol problem.” On the day of the offence, he and his partner had both been drinking, said Mr Shepherd.

When he told her to leave, he was concerned she would go back to her former partner’s address, though she had nowhere else to go.

“I submit that the knife was on him to demonstrate what he could be capable of rather than what he wanted to do,” said Mr Shepherd.

McIvor wanted only to scare the woman. He said McIvor had not used the knife to threaten Ms Nicoletta and her intervention was welcomed.

“There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation,” said Mr Shepherd, pointing out that McIvor accepted the relationship was over.

Recorder Michael Blakey said the defendant had clearly been drunk. Referring to Ms Nicoletta, the Recorder said: “There was a member of the public who was passing, who bravely told you to stop.”

The judge accepted McIvor was of hitherto good character and that he had acted out of character that day. But he spoke also of the need for courts to send out a deterrent message about knife possession and use.

“The carrying of weapons – and knives in particular – is almost of epidemic proportions in society," said the Recorder. “[We] know the potential consequences of carrying a knife…

“There are many cases published in the papers involving knives and the message has to go out, again and again and again, that if you carry a knife, you put your liberty in jeopardy.”

Turning to McIvor, of Norfolk Road, Penrith, he added: “As I have indicated to your barrister, knife crime is prevalent within society.

“Many people have died as a consequence of possessing or walking about with knives, probably not intending to use it.

“Sadly, they do.

“Many people have died as a result; and the message has to go out to those who possess knives, who use knives, that if you do so, you forfeit your liberty.

“Appropriate punishment in this case can only be achieved by immediate custody.” He jailed the defendant for 20 months.