THUG AVOIDS JAIL FOR THREATENING STEPFATHER WITH A KNIFE AFTER VICTIM PLEADS FOR LENIENCY
A drunken thug who grabbed hold of a kitchen knife and threatened to kill his stepfather has avoided prison – after his victim asked the court to spare him.Adam Armitage punched and kicked Jeffrey Moorhouse after returning home late to discover that the front door key had not been left in the usual place.
The 24-year-old then removed the knife from the kitchen and told Mr Moorhouse: “I’m going to kill you.” The incident at the family’s home in Mirfield lasted for 30 minutes and only ended when Mr Moorhouse managed to lock his stepson outside.
Armitage pleaded guilty to assault and Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard that his actions were the result of his poor mental health and heavy alcohol consumption.
But Mr Moorhouse asked the Huddersfield court to spare his stepson from jail, claiming that he had been let down by his lack of proper care within the community.
Sentencing Armitage to a 20-week suspended sentence, District Judge Michael Fanning told him: “Anybody who threatens another person with a knife can expect to go to prison, certainly in my courts.
However, I feel that I can deal with you by way of a suspended sentence.
“Having a particular regard to what the complainant has said, I don’t think that prison is going to solve the underpinning issues that need addressing.” Judge Fanning ordered Armitage to complete 33 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his issues.
He has to pay £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge.
