A man slashed towards his ex-girlfriend's neck with a kitchen knife after turning up to her home to collect his belongings following their break-up.
Kieron Ward told his ex-partner that he wished she would die when he turned up to her Walker home to collect his bicycle following an acrimonious separation. After the woman denied Ward entry into her home, he pulled a knife out of his hoody and "swiped" it towards her throat, but only managed to nick her chest after she moved back.
Ward, who is on the autistic spectrum, then fled the scene and returned to his home where he broke down and told his mother: "I tried to kill her'. Ward, of Christie Terrace, Byker, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle's Moot Hall via link to be sentenced for possession of a knife and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
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Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said the attack took place on May 21 this year, when Ward went to the family home of his ex-partner in order to collect his bicycle. He said: "They had been in a relationship for two years, but at the time of the offences they had been separated for about a month. The complainant is aware that the defendant had been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and there had been previous problems in the relationship. The reason for their separation was constant arguing."
The court heard that there had been an agreement between the two that Ward could collect his bicycle, but when he turned up, he asked if he could go inside her home to collect the rest of his belongings, which the woman refused, saying she would box them up and drop them off. Mr Perks said: "The defendant lost his temper and refused to leave and demanded she retrieve his items, telling her: 'I hate you I wish you would die'. He then produced a knife from his hoody and swiped it towards her throat area. She backed away and he briefly followed her and threw the knife at her before walking away."
The eight-inch knife had been taken from Ward's kitchen drawer before he took it to the scene. The attack resulted in the woman sustaining a small cut to her upper chest area after the knife cut through her clothing, but medical attention was not required. Mr Perks said that Ward returned home where his mum described him as being "visibly upset and shaking" as he collapsed on the floor and said: 'I tried to kill her, I threw a knife at her'. Ward's mum then took him to a police station.
Andrew Walker, defending, said the offence was "out of character" for Ward, who had no previous convictions. He said: "The complainant in her first statement to police said this defendant had never physically hurt her before and expressed shock and surprise at what had occurred. This defendant's reaction was connected to a long standing diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder and the circumstances he found himself to be in at that time, which were for him, highly distressing. The breakdown of the relationship was a trigger for the defendant's emotional wellbeing to be put out of balance. For him, it was a profound change in his life and he is genuinely remorseful."
Sentencing Ward, who had been in custody for five months, Judge Edward Bindloss said he has his "own vulnerabilities" and noted that a report detailed how prison could have a detrimental impact on him and would leave him vulnerable to exploitation. Judge Bindloss sentenced Ward to two years in prison, suspended for two years and ordered him to complete 30 rehabilitation days. A 10 year restraining order was also imposed.
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