Jail for man who stabbed attacker
A MAN head-butted twice and chased from a pub stabbed his assailant five times in self-defence with a kitchen knife he found lying on the ground, a court heard.
Andrew Maitland, prosecuting, told Plymouth Crown Court that at about 6pm on February 9, 2008, police driving up Western Approach noticed a fight but couldn't stop.
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Approaching from Harwell Street, they saw Paul Westlake running away with a bloody nose and Peter Harrison staggering about with five stab wounds.
Westlake was eventually found hiding on a neighbour's roof under a tarpaulin.
Police later found the knife on a windowsill, with Westlake's fingerprints and Peter Harrison's blood on it.
Mr Harrison suffered three stab wounds to the back, one in the arm and one in the shoulder, plus a collapsed lung. Westlake had minor injuries.
Jason Beal, for Westlake, said that following an argument in Jumping Jack's pub in the city centre, Mr Harrison had butted his client.
Westlake offered to shake hands, but Mr Harrison butted him again and chased him out of the pub and across a car park, where the pair fell to the ground.
Westlake found a knife with a 22cm blade lying on the ground and used it to defend himself, the court heard.
On Monday, August 18 last year, Westlake was out at 3am celebrating his release from prison and was under the influence of valium and a two-litre bottle of vodka and coke.
Near the Two Trees pub in Union Street, he was offering to fight all comers while his brother Steven tried to restrain him.
An onlooker stepped in to try to calm him, but was punched in the mouth, losing a front tooth.
Westlake, aged 33, of King Street, Stonehouse, eventually pleaded guilty to three charges: unlawful wounding, affray and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Judge Ian Leeming QC sentenced him to a total of 35 months in jail, less 397 days on remand, which means he could be free by Christmas.
But he also imposed a five-and-a-half-year criminal Asbo, banning Westlake from entering any licensed premises in the city centre, Union Street, North Hill, Mutley Plain, The Barbican or Barbican Leisure Park.
Westlake is also banned from carrying an unopened container of alcohol or being drunk or under the influence of drugs in the same areas.
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by Dave, Devonport
Sunday, July 05 2009, 4:13PM
“Would the Herald like to carry a front page warning so we can avoid this scumbag's next "celebration of getting out of prison".
Out looking for a fight,knocked one guy's tooth out,no doubt other incidents that were not reported then finally stabs someone.....and will be out before Christmas.
There are parts of the country where people will "sort out" social problems,and the scrotes that cause them,for a few quid.If sentencing gets any softer that's going to be a boom industry soon and the do-gooders will be wringing their hands..when it's their necks that need wringing.”
by Mick, Barbican
Sunday, July 05 2009, 3:13PM
“Quote- "found a knife with a 22cm blade lying on the ground and used it to defend himself"
Wow how lucky can anybody get..:)”
by A.Joke, Plymouth
Sunday, July 05 2009, 10:45AM
“The biggest joke of the whole report is brother Steven trying to restrain him. Anyone who knows of these people would say throw away the keys.”
by Russ, Plymouth
Sunday, July 05 2009, 7:57AM
“I need a new set of cutlery... Off to all the car parks- grab myself a canteen or two!”
by Dugie, plymouth
Saturday, July 04 2009, 10:25PM
“I don't know either of the two people involved and i take on board the improbability of finding a knife conviniently to hand, however it would seem that the incident was instigated by harrison who attacked westlake and persued him to press home the assult. he then came off worse, we hear no mention of his sentance for a sustained assult, just because he came off worse the other guy was guilty? get real. more crap reporting of a pathetic judicial system”
by george, stoke
Saturday, July 04 2009, 8:49PM
“get used to it ... you lot down here have been having it cushty ... try living up the line ... its a lot - lot worse .... and it aint going to get better under the pc laws we have .. i always remember a guy said to me 10 years ago that plymouth would never get like that ... i said he was wrong ... he looked at me like i was a fool ... i felt sorry for him .”
by Local, Keyham
Saturday, July 04 2009, 3:37PM
“Just how did these people swing it that this thug wasn't charged with carrying a concealed weapon? Nobody just finds a kitchen knife in the middle of a car park - that's ludicrous, no right minded person would believe that esp. not coming from a criminal like this twit. Out by Christmas?! What for?? So he can make someone else's life a complete misery?! Another example of what a total joke our legal system has become.”
by mary, Plympton
Saturday, July 04 2009, 12:29PM
“Really beginning to dispair at the stae society is in and it seems to be getting worse. No pride in themselves or the city. Caniot t walk in the city centre or the Hoe without theses morons swearing and trying to intimidate decent members of the public and never a polce man in sight!!”
by D, Plymouth
Saturday, July 04 2009, 10:45AM
“"police driving up Western Approach noticed a fight but couldn't stop" ha ha ha ha”
by Dave, Rosyth
Saturday, July 04 2009, 9:44AM
“I don't recall I've ever found a kitchen knife in a car park, much less when I've been getting my head kicked in.”