BLACKBURN MAN SENTENCED TO OVER THREE YEARS FOR THREATENING HIS PARTNER WITH A KNIFE

John McNair, aged 43 and a resident of Coleridge Street, Blackburn, was involved in a violent and threatening incident with his partner during August 2022. The incident escalated when McNair kept his partner locked inside their flat and made repeated threats to kill her. The victim discovered drugs in their flat and demanded he remove them or call the police. McNair then contacted a drug dealer and was overheard planning to meet them at midnight, though the victim was not satisfied with this arrangement. When she threatened to leave, McNair physically prevented her from doing so and threatened her with a dark green fishing knife. He held the knife to her throat and threatened to kill her, telling her to stay seated and not move as he assaulted her—hitting her over the head with the handle of the knife and cutting her leg. The pair then left the flat to get alcohol, during which McNair continued his threats, threatening to cut her throat if she called the police. She eventually escaped when a member of the public noticed her distress and helped her call the police and ambulance. She was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, arriving just before 2 am on August 9. McNair was arrested on the same day and pleaded guilty to making threats to kill and possessing a bladed article. He was sentenced to three years and three months in prison, minus time served on remand. The judge noted that McNair's actions left the victim feeling she was going to die and that she sustained injuries, including a lump on her head and a cut to her leg, as a result of the assault.