INGLEBY BARWICK MAN STABBED EX-PARTNER WITH A FORK AND RECEIVED SUSPENDED SENTENCE
A man who stabbed his ex-partner in the head with a fork before threatening to burn her mother’s home down has walked free from court.
Harry Stokes flew into a rage when he realised their relationship was over and launched a torrent of abuse towards the mother of one of his children.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 24-year-old left the woman terrified after his violent and abusive behaviour.
Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said Stokes made threats to blow up the home of the victim’s mother or get some people to set fire to it when he lost his temper as their relationship failed and the victim recorded some of the abuse.
“The victim was pleading with the defendant to stop and he replied by calling her a ‘scruffy lass’, ‘watch what happens to your mam’s house, not everyone is getting out alive’ and ‘I’m going to make sure the house is on fire tonight, you nasty little ***’,” she said.
“The defendant proceeded to run at her with a fork and stabbed in the head causing her to scream in pain.” Miss Butt said the victim was left in pain and shock as a result of the assault.
In a victim impact statement, she said she was "still living on edge" as she was fearful whenever she heard a knock at the door in case it was the defendant or somebody, he had sent to her home.
Stokes, of no fixed abode but formerly from Ingleby Barwick, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threats to cause criminal damage.
Michele Turner, mitigating, said the father-of-three had spent several months on remand after breaching the terms of his bail conditions.
She said Stokes admits that he "just lost his head for some time" when he struggled with the burden of full-time work and having three children with two separate mothers.
Recorder Paul Reid said: “This is, in my judgement, you completely lost the plot because you could simply not cope with the break up with the mother of your third child.
“You have pleaded guilty to assaulting her and making awful threats to cause criminal damage.” Stokes was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to attend 240 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also made subject to a five-year restraining order.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
third child. "You have pleaded guilty to assaulting her and making awful threats to cause criminal damage." Stokes was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to attend 240 rehabilitation activity requirement...
Prison sentence
15 months
Recorder Paul Reid said: "This is, in my judgement, you completely lost the plot because you could simply not cope with the break up with the mother of your third child. "You have pleaded guilty to assaulting her and making awful threats to cause criminal damage." Stokes was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to attend 240 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work
Suspended sentence
two years
Recorder Paul Reid said: "This is, in my judgement, you completely lost the plot because you could simply not cope with the break up with the mother of your third child. "You have pleaded guilty to assaulting her and making awful threats to cause criminal damage." Stokes was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to attend 240 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work
Community order
200 hours
Recorder Paul Reid said: "This is, in my judgement, you completely lost the plot because you could simply not cope with the break up with the mother of your third child. "You have pleaded guilty to assaulting her and making awful threats to cause criminal damage." Stokes was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to attend 240 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work
Court order
He was also made subject to a five-year restraining order
