DRUNKEN COUNTY DURHAM MAN MADE KNIFE THREATS TO PREGNANT PARTNER
A man who returned home intoxicated from a drinking session and entered a drunken rage has fulfilled his promise to return to prison.Kai Taylor verbally threatened his pregnant partner and another woman with a knife, who had come to help her leave their home.
Durham Crown Court was told that during the incident, he also stabbed himself and, while intoxicated, predicted he would be sent back to prison.
The court heard that on Saturday, May 21, during the incident, Taylor also threatened to throw stones and bricks at a car that was there to take his partner away.
He also held the knife against the back of one woman and lunged at the vehicle, pressing the blade against the tires while telling everyone inside he hoped they would “die.” Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins stated that Taylor then left the scene but was shortly afterwards apprehended.
During the plea hearing via video link from HMP Durham, the 22-year-old defendant, of Clara Street, Seaham, pleaded guilty to charges of affray, carrying a bladed article in public, and assault by beating.
A victim impact statement from his partner described Taylor’s behavior that day as unacceptable, noting that he was “a different animal” when under the influence of alcohol.
She also called him “a bully” and expressed in the statement shared with the court that she no longer wished to be in a relationship with him.
However, Mr.
Hopkins mentioned that since submitting that statement, she has issued a retraction.
The court was told that Taylor has a criminal record with 16 convictions spanning 35 offences, including being a three-time burglar and having previous violent incidents.
After his arrest, he was recalled to prison to serve part of his outstanding sentence for an earlier burglary conviction.
Defense lawyer Ian West highlighted that a significant factor in mitigation was Taylor’s guilty pleas.
“He recognizes that he committed these offenses and has chosen to plead guilty.
His drunken stupidity that day may have severely harmed his relationship with his unborn child,” Mr.
West explained.
“For that recklessness, he has already paid a high price, regardless of today’s outcome,” he added.
Judge James Adkin addressed Taylor directly, stating: “You wisely pleaded guilty to affray, assault by beating, and possessing a bladed article on May 21, in a domestic abuse context after drinking.
You consumed up to seven pints and became extremely intoxicated.
After the incident, you said you were going back to jail.
You stabbed yourself with the knife and threatened your pregnant partner.” The judge then sentenced Taylor to 21 months in prison, noting that the sentence would have been 30 months if he had been found guilty at trial.
