A drunken man repeatedly stabbed a stranger with a kitchen knife after a row broke out at a beach themed party.
Gareth Parr, 19, and his uncle Frankie Parr, 33, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday (November 16) to be sentenced for the attack at the Vine Tavern pub on Elephant Lane in St Helens. The court heard how both men were drunk at the pub, where a beach themed party was being held on the evening of August 6 this year, and families were present.
Gareth Parr had to be warned about his behaviour before the decision was made not to serve him any more alcohol. The 19-year-old left the pub and returned a short time later armed with a long kitchen knife concealed in his clothing.
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At this time, his uncle Frankie Parr was talking to another pubgoer, Steven Rigby, when the conversation became heated. Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mr Rigby was the first to throw a punch at Frankie Parr but it was not clear why.
Frankie Parr took hold of Mr Rigby and pinned him to the bar before repeatedly punching him. The court heard how Gareth Parr then stepped in and escalated the violence by stabbing Mr Rigby in the back with a kitchen knife.
CCTV cameras captured the victim falling to the floor as Frankie Parr kneed and kicked him. Martin Walsh, prosecuting, told the court once Mr Rigby fell to the floor "he's unconscious, legs out underneath him."
But Gareth Parr returned and stabbed the victim again as he lay motionless and unresponsive throughout.
Judge Gary Woodhall said: "All of this occurred in the presence of other customers and staff, some of whom intervened to try and stop you Gareth Parr, during which you threatened them with a knife before leaving the public house followed by your uncle."
The 19-year-old returned and stabbed his victim once more before leaving and taking the knife with him. The judge said: "Those left behind were understandably upset and in distress at what they had just witnessed."
The court heard how Mr Rigby was someone who had suffered with his brain function having been hospitalised with Covid-19 and suffering from long covid.
The victim suffered a 4cm long stab wound to his left rib area and three wounds to his right forearm that needed eight stitches. He also suffered from a broken nasal bone in the attack. In a victim impact statement, Mr Rigby said he's been left feeling anxious after what happened and doesn't want to go out.
Gareth Parr, of no fixed address but previously of Gibbons Avenue, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in a public place. The 19-year-old had also admitted breaching a suspended sentence he had received for throwing urine and faeces at prison officers.
He flouted a curfew he was handed in June as part of the 18 month sentence suspended for two years and failed to attend an appointment with the probation service.
Frankie Parr, of Mersey Street, had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to his role in the attack on Mr Rigby at the Vine Tavern pub. The 33-year-old had also been convicted of affray in relation to an incident on March 29 which saw him chase his brother, Andrew Parr, down the street with an axe following a dispute over money.
Frankie Parr admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and criminal damage in relation to the incident in March, which resulting in him throwing the weapon through the window of Sweet Retreat - a sweet shop on Elephant Lane in St Helens, which was owned by his brother's wife, Laura Hillcherry, at the time.
Defending Gareth Parr, Suzanne Payne, said he had a dysfunctional upbringing and social services were involved with the family from when he was 12 months old due to concerns about his exposure to domestic abuse and violence that he witnessed.
Ms Payne told the court he was taken to a refuge with his mum at the age of four and it's likely what he witnessed had an impact on his thinking skills and development. The court heard how Gareth Parr had suffered from a brain injury from a crash in 2019 which has impacted his cognitive skills and had recently been diagnosed with PTSD.
Judge Gary Woodhall said Gareth Parr had told the author of a pre-sentence report that he regularly carried knives due to his paranoia. His previous convictions date back to 2003 and include multiple offences for battery, as well as criminal damage, attempted robbery, harrasment and driving while disqualified.
Defending Frankie Parr, Mr Wyn Williams, said his client had also had "adverse childhood experiences" and he was punched first at the pub, although this didn't constitute self-defence.
The court heard how Frankie Parr had a history of drug use and alcohol. His previous convictions date back to 2001 and include criminal damage, section 20 wounding, robbery, possession of cocaine and threats with a bladed article.
Judge Gary Woodhall found both men to have a high risk of reoffending and a high risk of causing serious harm to the public.
Gareth Parr was sentenced to four and a half years in a young offenders institute for the wounding with intent and 12 months for breaching his suspended sentence. He was also given 21 months for the possession of a bladed article to run concurrently.
This brings his total prison term to five and a half years with an extended three years on licence. Two thirds of the sentence must be served in custody before he can be eligible for parole.
Frankie Parr was sentenced to 12 months in prison for assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the pub attack and two years consecutive for affray for the incident at Sweet Retreat in March. This brings his total sentence to three years imprisonment with an extended three years on licence. He must also serve two thirds of this in prison before he can be eligible for parole.
Both men were handed restraining orders which restrict them from contacting Mr Rigby. Frankie Parr was also handed a separate restraining order to stop him contacting his brother, Andrew Parr, his brother's wife Laura Hillcherry, and their children.
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