Man spat at his mother and punched her partner
A MAN burst into his mother’s bedroom then punched her partner in the face while wearing a knuckleduster and grappled with him on the floor.
Sentencing Michael Knowles at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said the worst part of the offending was when the defendant spat in his mother’s face.
The court heard the first incident happened at Trefelin in Trecynon, Aberdare, on October 4 last year.
Thomas Stanway, prosecuting, said the defendant “burst in” on his mother Claire Knowles and her partner Lee Jenkins and there was an argument. He told the court: “[The defendant] had traces of white powder around his nose.”
Prosecutors said Mr Jenkins got out of bed and Knowles, who was wearing a silver knuckleduster, punched him before “grappling” on the floor.
The court heard the complainant managed to overpower Knowles who pleaded with his mother until Mr Jenkins let him go.
Mr Stanway said Mr Jenkins suffered bruising to his face and the knuckleduster was recovered from underneath the sofa in the sitting room.
The next incident happened five days later on the afternoon of October 9 when the defendant’s mother was unwell in bed and Knowles was again “in a temper”.
Prosecutors said Mr Jenkins was downstairs making her toast when the defendant started throwing things around and his mother told him to calm down. She went to clear up while he shouted abuse.
Mr Stanway said: “Ms Knowles tried to get away from the defendant. He was in her face, shouting. He closed the door, stopping his mother from getting out.”
Knowles threw a large speaker towards the fridge and a piece of plastic came off and hit his mother in the forehead. She asked him to leave.
The prosecutor added: “He came towards her, gripped her by the shoulders, and tried to get her out of the house.” She tried to reason with him but Knowles spat in his mother’s face twice.
She called for Mr Jenkins, who was upstairs and did not come, as the defendant had locked him in the bedroom. He called the police.
Prosecutors said Ms Knowles suffered a cut to her forehead. When he was interviewed by the police Knowles accepted punching Mr Jenkins but claimed he was acting in self-defence and denied using any weapons.
He told a probation officer he had been drinking and “misread” the situation between his mother and her partner. The defendant accepted arguing with his mother and throwing a speaker. He denied grabbing her or spitting at her and claimed he left to go to work.
Mr Stanway said he had seven previous convictions, including assault and criminal damage.
In August 2019 he was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, for assaulting his pregnant then-girlfriend following an argument about his drug use.
Prosecutors said it was when police attended that incident in June 2019 they found a cannabis factory at his home.
Knowles, 24, from Trefelin, Aberdare, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating, and criminal damage.
He also pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. He accepted those were all committed in breach of a suspended sentence.
Marian Lewis, defending said while he was in custody he was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. He was prescribed medication but would prefer to have counselling.
Judge Jenkins said he had read a letter from the defendant’s mother and told him: “The only thing your mother craves is to have a normal family life and put these matters behind you.”
Knowles was jailed for 18 months and the judge made a three-year restraining order. An order was made for the weapon and drugs to be destroyed.