STEPHEN BALNAVES

EX-PARTNERS END UP IN COURT AFTER WOMAN TURNS UP AT HOUSE WITH KNIFE

A dispute between ex-partners ended with both of them in court after a woman turned up at her former boyfriend's house brandishing a steak knife, only to be attacked by him with a tree branch.

On Wednesday, August 21, Liverpool Crown Court heard how Natalie Rickets, 42, arrived at Stephen Balnaves' address on St Annes Grove, Birkenhead after their 16-year-old daughter alleged she had been assaulted by her dad.

Video footage shown to the court captured Ricketts banging on the door of the house and demanding to speak to Balnaves, who was not at home, then banging on the window with the knife, spitting on them, and shouting "tell her to come out.

I'll have a fight with her woman to woman, no weapons involved." Prosecutor Simran Garcha described how one of Balnaves' teenage children left to warn him that Ricketts was armed and on the driveway.

When Balnaves arrived, he used a branch to attack Ricketts, causing her to fall and sustain a head wound before kicking her once while she was on the ground.

He was arrested at the scene, and Ricketts was taken to hospital where she was also later arrested.

Balnaves, who has four previous convictions for nine offences, pleaded guilty to section 20 wounding and received a nine months prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a 12-month mental health treatment, and 15 rehabilitation days.

Ricketts pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place and affray, with no previous convictions, described as a remorseful single parent of three children.

She was given an 18-month community order with 20 days of rehab, a tagged curfew from 8pm to 8am, and a restraining order not to contact Balnaves.

The judge commented on the unacceptable nature of her behavior during the incident.