A son armed himself with scissors and and assaulted his mother's partner after drinking alcohol and taking Valium. When he was told the police were being called, he said: "Go on, I will stab them also."
Stephen Williams, 35, had attended a pub with his mother Janet Williams in Merthyr Tydfil on January 3 but returned to her home at 6pm. When she returned home with her partner Rhys Davies, the house had been trashed and her son was sitting on the sofa in the living room.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday heard Ms Williams challenged the defendant on why her house was in such a state and described him as "off his face" on something. Mr Davies believed Williams was under the influence of drugs.
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Prosecutor Emily Jermain said Williams went upstairs, slammed doors and threw things about. He came back downstairs and accused Mr Davies of sleeping with his partner, and was angry and shouting. The defendant proceeded to punch Mr Davies on both arms and to the left side of his face, and started throwing a china mug.
Williams then paced around the living mumbling and said: "I'll smash the house up and your car. I'll smash your face up." He threw a chair before heading outside and arguing with Ms Williams. Mr Davies followed and the defendant started throwing punches again before throwing a bin at a window.
Police attended the scene and saw Williams pull out what initially appeared to be a silver knife but he put it back in his pocket and ran away. He was chased and arrested, but when an officer searched the defendant he was found in possession of a pair of scissors.
Williams, of High Street, Blaina, Blaenau Gwent, claimed he couldn't remember what had happened having consumed a pint-and-a-half of lager and taken Valium. He said he would have "likely stabbed someone" if the scissors hadn't been taken off him and he was "devastated" having caused the offences. He later pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and assault by beating. The court heard he had 25 previous convictions including grievous bodily harm, and possessing offensive weapons.
In a victim personal statement read out to the court, Ms Williams said: "I haven't seen my son since the incident, I feel safer when he is in prison. The incident has left me feeling depressed and I've not been able to socialise with friends. It has hit me for six. "
She added: "I feel my son has broken my heart. He was possessed and just goes off on one... He needs help, he is still my son and I love him dearly."
Mr Davies said he felt "in shock" when Williams hit him. He describes his body aching, not being able to eat properly, and is scared of going out in case he sees the defendant.
In mitigation, William Bebb said his client had a drugs problem but had been motivated having completed a lift driver's course. But on the day of the offence he had taken Valium after a period of abstinence, and was unable to remember what happened thereafter.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Twomlow described it as a "disgraceful incident". He added: "The pre-sentence report says you didn't accept responsibility for what happened. It's clear substance abuse has been a big problem for you and until you address it, you're not going to be able to stop this cycle of offences.
Williams was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before being released on licence.
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