2012: MAN THREATENED TO STAB EX WHILE SHE WAS HOLDING BABY
A MAN who assaulted and threatened to stab his former girlfriend while she was cradling their baby boy in her arms has been jailed.Taunton Crown Court heard how, in a separate incident, 28-year-old Luke Haworth was seen wandering down a road in Taunton brandishing two swords.
Haworth, of Musgrove Road, Taunton, was sentenced to 20 months after pleading guilty to two charges of assault, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article, and drink-driving.
The court recounted that on October 15 last year, Samantha Danning was preparing for Taunton Carnival at her home on Wordsworth Drive when Haworth arrived intoxicated with a Stanley knife and assaulted her.
Prosecutor Garth Richardson stated: “He tried to cut his wrists with the knife, saying ‘you took my kids away from me’.” “He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the floor while she was holding their 14-month-old son.
He struck her twice to the back of the head, pinned her down, and began to squeeze her throat.” Haworth then chased Miss Danning down the street shouting: ‘I am going to stab you’.
He also assaulted a neighbour after the neighbour heard screams and tried to help.
The incident also involved a car crash in Bridgwater in July, where Haworth was found to be twice over the drink-drive limit.
A week later, CCTV footage showed Haworth bare-chested with two short swords in Creechbarrow Road, Taunton, and on September 27, he threatened to slit his ex-partner’s throat.
The judge remarked: “The essence has been identified as excess drug and alcohol use.
The level of fear must have been extreme.” Defence attorney Patrick Mason stated that Haworth has reflected on his behavior, acknowledging the events that impacted his life, and he was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
