Attacker dragged stab victim into the street in the cold and left him
A STABBING victim was dragged out into the street and abandoned unconscious in the cold by his attacker.
Barry Taylor had been taking part in a drinking session at Raymond Potter’s home when he was attacked and left with two stab wounds.
A court heard Mr Taylor was found lying on the ground by a worried passer-by and taken to hospital after the assault in County Durham, in February.
Newcastle Crown Court heard a police investigation showed the stricken man being “dragged out” of his attacker’s home around 90 minutes earlier. The court heard both men were so drunk they “cannot remember the evening”.
Prosecutor Robin Patton told the court Mr Taylor appears to have been stabbed by Potter inside the house, in Durham city, before being dragged out.
Mr Patton added: “Once in the street the defendant appeared to be pushing him way from his home, at times gesticulating in an aggressive manner.
“When the injured party fell over, he would repeatedly help him to his feet. A neighbour overheard the defendant say ‘go home, get out of here, you are drunk, go home’.”
Mr Patton added: “He stabbed him twice, dragged him into the street while injured, in order to remove him from the house and leave him in the very cold conditions, with no attempt to obtain medical assistance.
“He removed Mr Taylor to the street and abandoned him in order to distance himself from the assault.”
The court heard Mr Taylor had suffered other injuries which may have been caused by repeated falls outside the house.
Potter, 41, of Turnbull Close, Gilesgate, Durham, admitted unlawful wounding and was locked up for 20 months.
Judge James Adkin told him: “A concerning feature of this case is, despite being injured and bleeding, the victim was abandoned in the street where he lay in public view on a cold morning, it is estimated for about 90 minutes.”
Roderick Hunt, defending, said Potter is remorseful for what happened and added: “He is at a loss to say why he went so off the rails.
“He is an intelligent man, he knows what he did was dreadful.
“He wishes to give him apologies to the complainant. He will seek help in future, he doesn’t ever want to be in this situation again.”
Mr Hunt said Potter’s father died recently and he was unable to attend the funeral.