Killer is sent back to prison after metal pole attack
A CONVICTED killer is back behind bars after smashing a man’s face with a metal pole during a dispute.
Paul Stewart, jailed for seven and a half years for manslaughter in 2014, turned to violence again after a dispute between children spiralled out of control.
A court heard he was provoked by members of another family before arming himself with a metal pole used in his work as a decorator.
As he tried to use it on the teenagers from the other family, it struck their dad, causing fractures to his eye socket, cheek bone and sinus and causing his eye to sink back in the socket and have a limited range of movement.
Now Stewart, who has 48 previous convictions, has been jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court.
In November last year the victim discovered eggs had been thrown at his home in Wallsend and when he went outside he noticed some girls shouting at his son.
After a girl made allegations the man had assaulted and threatened her, which he denied, Stewart arrived on the scene.
Jon Harley, prosecuting, said Stewart ended up saying to the man: “I will knock you out and I’ll burn your house out.”
He added: “The argument continued both ways and at one point the man’s sons came out holding planks of wood, which they began swinging around.
“The defendant ran back to his car and got a metal pole.
“The defendant said ‘I will take your f****** head off’. He then swung the pole toward the son but instead hit the man in the face.”
Stewart, 36, of Edge Way, East Benton Rise, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to GBH and possessing an offensive weapon.
He was jailed for 14 months but has served seven months on remand so is likely to be released soon.
Judge Julie Clemitson said Stewart had been provoked and “each side bears some responsibility” but Stewart’s actions were nevervtheless unlawful.
The court heard his previous convictions include affray in 2006, attempted robbery in 2007, threatening behaviour in 2009, assaulting a police officer in 2009, assault and possessing a bladed article in 2011 and assault and manslaughter in 2014.
Glenn Gatland, defending, said the victim and his family had been responsible for anti-social behaviour and said they “were behaving in a rather disgraceful way.”
He added: “The defendant, since his release from prison, had been out of any form of trouble.”
He said he intended to find out what had gone on between the man and the girl.
Mr Gatland said when the man’s sons came out with wooden posts, he went to his car and got a “lightweight” decorating pole used to extend rollers for use on ceilings but that he “was not intent on attacking anybody, he was just extremely angry at how it developed”.
He added: “He is sorry and expresses remorse.”