A JEALOUS boyfriend who broke into his love rival’s Uttoxeter home and attacked him with martial arts weapons has been jailed for six years.
Victim Patrick Springbett was asleep in bed at his flat in Uttoxeter when he was woken by a blow to his ear and a further blow to his head, Stafford Crown Court heard.
Pat Sullivan, prosecuting, said on May 24 this year, Turner called his girlfriend and told her he was going to ‘get’ Mr Springbett.
Later that night he cycled over to Uttoxeter, armed with the nunchucks, and got in to the victim’s flat through an insecure window.
Mr Springbett put up his arms to defend himself and was hit on the elbow with the nunchucks. Turner then fled from the Bradley Street flat by smashing a ground floor window.
The 25-year-old went to the home of his partner, Leah Blurton, the ex-girlfriend of the victim and was arrested there.
Police recovered a pair of blood-stained nunchucks from a drawer in the property.
As a result of the attack, Mr Springbett was left with a two-inch cut to his head that needed five stitches. He also had cuts to his ear and jaw and a sore elbow.
Steve Hennessey, defending, said: “This offence came about because of a rather complicated social arrangement.
“He would say it is not only a background of jealousy. He says in his report ‘I have always been bullied and I have had enough’.” Although Mr Springbett was not responsible for any bullying, Turner felt he’d had enough of having the sand kicked in his face, Mr Hennessey added.
Turner, of Ness Grove, Cheadle, who had no previous convictions, admitted a charge of aggravated burglary.
The court heard that since January this year, the minimum sentence for this type of offence has been raised to nine years.
Judge John Maxwell gave Turner the minimum sentence, less one third for an early guilty plea.
The judge said: “I have to follow the guidelines unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice.
“It is not open to me to express a view that the guidelines seem to be severe. “I have come to the conclusion there is no basis for me to depart from the guidelines — the defendant climbed in to the victim’s home in the middle of the night when he was fast asleep.
“He subjected the victim to a most terrifying experience.
“The defendant felt his relationship was being jeopardised by the continued friendship between his partner and the victim.”
