Vicious drug addict slit pal’s throat
‘DANGER TO PUBLIC’ ATTACKED AFTER ACCUSING FRIEND OF HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH HIS PARTNER,
A “DANGEROUS” drug addict from Derby slashed the throat of a friend because he thought he was having an affair with his partner.
Roy Austin, 42, was told by a judge he presented “a high risk of danger to the public” after causing a 12cm slit around the neck of the victim that needed 25 stitches.
Derby Crown Court heard the victim staggered into the street and collapsed before being helped by a passing cyclist. In hospital he needed a transfusion because of the huge amount of blood he had lost.
Now Austin, who slashed his own wrists after the attack, has been jailed for eight years after admitting he was responsible for the knife assault.
Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “In 2016 you were sent to prison for two years after holding a knife to someone’s throat and threatening to kill them.
“In September of this year, while you were out on licence, you took someone’s kitchen knife out into the street following an argument.
“Now, while on bail for that offence, you have admitted to using a craft knife to cause a significant injury on someone who is a friend and who you thought was having a relationship with your girlfriend, no doubt fuelled by drink and drugs.
“I have to determine if you are a danger to the public and I have no hesitation in deciding that you are.”
Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said Austin, of Leaper Street, had been taking drugs with the victim on the day he slashed his throat. She said they ended up at an address in Melbourne Street, Normanton, where an argument started during which Austin accused his friend of sleeping with his partner.
Miss Allen said: “The victim armed himself with the nearest thing to hand which was a roll of wallpaper – but the defendant then appeared calm so he put the roll down.
“But the violence erupted again and he [the victim] was approached and cut across the neck with a craft knife the defendant had on him. It was a gruesome injury and a mutual friend helped the victim onto Normanton Road where he collapsed.
“She called an ambulance and while they were waiting a passing cyclist stopped and offered assistance.” Miss Allen said the man was taken to hospital, where a blood transfusion took place.
She said Austin left a trail of blood as he fled from the scene and was found hours later by cyclists in the Pride Park area having cut his own wrists, saying “Help me, I am dying” and admitting to them he had “hurt someone”. Austin pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon and for breaching bail and his licence.
Judge Smith handed him a six-year jail term with a two-year extension meaning the total sentence is eight years. Justin Ablott, mitigating, said: “The vast majority of his adult life he has been addicted to class A drugs and he knows this is the point in his life that the drugs have to stop. His substance misuse has triggered his irrational behaviour and made him paranoid.
“His behaviour fluctuates between irrational and full-blown remorse. “He knows he caused serious injury to someone.”
I have to determine if you are a danger... and I have no hesitation in deciding you are. Judge Shaun Smith