BRISTOL MAN JAILED FOR VIOLENT KNIFE ATTACK ON PARTNER
A man who assaulted a woman by slashing her wrist and later insisted she had inflicted the injury herself has been sentenced to prison.Joshua Nigh, who was under a restraint order preventing him from seeing the woman, had been drinking with her prior to her using a blade on her arm for a sense of relief, as revealed in court.
During the incident, Nigh grabbed her arm, told her, "If you are going to do it, do it like this," and brought the blade down on her wrist.
The woman suffered damage to a tendon and a nerve, requiring surgical intervention.
Initially, Nigh claimed that she had self-harmed, the court heard.
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of wounding, breaching a restraining order three times, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He has prior convictions for assaulting both the victim and his father, and the judge regarded him as a dangerous offender.
Judge James Patrick sentenced him to a five-year extended term, consisting of four years in prison plus 12 months on extended licence.
The judge commented, "These are very serious offences.
In my judgment, you are dangerous and uncontrollable when intoxicated." It was revealed that after admitting to breaching the restraining order, Nigh was released on bail and contacted the woman, attempting to persuade her to change her police statement.
Upon his arrest, he provided a prepared statement denying that he had harmed her.
Prosecutor Julian Howells noted Nigh was in breach of the order when he drank with the complainant before attacking her with a knife.
Describing the scene, Howells said: "There was blood everywhere.
The defendant panicked and was in shock, just as she was.
He called for an ambulance and claimed she had slit her wrist.
He was upset but also appeared calm at times.
Blood was spurting everywhere, and he called her a 'stupid bitch'." When detained, Nigh submitted a police statement denying involvement in the incident.
The court considered his earlier convictions for assault and alcohol use as aggravating factors but also acknowledged his remorsefulness when sober.
Judge Patrick emphasized the severity of the offences and deemed Nigh a dangerous individual, especially when intoxicated.
