Violent drunk jailed for three years (From Warrington Guardian)

Violent drunk jailed for three years

8:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in News

A KNIFE-WIELDING drunk who punched a man in the face seconds after threatening to stab him in the leg has been jailed for three years.

Michael Ingle, aged 33, of Haryngton Avenue, Bewsey, attacked Christoper Stockley after drinking in the town centre on June 17 last year.

Warrington Crown Court heard on Monday how Ingle and friend Lewis King went to Mr King’s home to continue drinking at around 6am.

Mr Stockley and girlfriend Faye Butler were asleep at the address when they arrived.

Father-of-one Ingle began to behave ‘oddly’, according to Merion Lewis-Jones, prosecuting.

He said: “He went into the bedroom and shouted ‘wake up’.

“He went into the kitchen and walked back in brandishing a kitchen knife and fork.

“He said ‘didn’t your mother teach you how to share’ and ‘don’t you know who I am’.

“The defendant said to Mr King ‘can I stab your friend in the leg?’.”

Ingle then threw the knife away and punched Mr Stockley in the eye, leaving him with a wound that needed stitches.

Police were called and he was arrested.

Ingle has 10 previous convictions for violent offences, including a four year prison sentence in a YOI in August 2000 - for stabbing someone in the leg with a knife.

He had been on bail for five days when attacking Mr Stockley.

Ingle was arrested on June 12 last year, following 19 months evading police for his part in a bar room brawl in Stockton Heath.

On November 26, 2010, Ingle was drinking in the Mulberry Tree Inn on Grappenhall Road with friend Darren Lavin.

An argument over a mobile phone saw the two fight, with Mr Lavin suffering serious injuries to his face, forehead and jaw from broken glass.

The wounds required 32 stitches.

A charge of GBH against Ingle was dropped as Mr Lavin, meant to give evidence at the trial, went on holiday without permission from the court.

Sarah Griffin, defending, said Ingle has a drink and drugs problem, but wants to become a role model for his eight-year-old daughter.

Judge Hale jailed him for two years and six months for assault, and six months for affray, to run consecutively.

He said: “It makes it even worse you were under the effects of drink and drugs.

“You were out of control. I suspect even you struggle to see how this came about.”