2011: DUDLEY TEEN JAILED FOR STABBING GIRLFRIEND
A DUDLEY teenager who stabbed his terrified girlfriend in the hand with a kitchen knife, after becoming frustrated while playing computer games, has been jailed for 18 months.Lee Walton then called police to say what he had done and after told officers that if they had not arrived promptly at his home there was a "real risk he could have killed her." Speaking at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Gosling told the 19 year-old from Laurel Road, it was clear he had "absolutely terrified" his young girlfriend at a time when he was "out of control." He said Walton carried out the attack, after smoking cannabis, and had been "brooding" for some time and when he made further threats to his partner in the call to police she was "reduced to a nervous wreck." The judge told Walton: "You were alarmingly candid with the police about what you wanted to do.
Unless you control your anger you are in danger of finding yourself in much more trouble." Walton admitted assaulting his "vulnerable" girlfriend causing her actual bodily harm and also assault by beating.
Judge Gosling ruled only immediate custody was appropriate because of the seriousness of the offence and was given a restraining order forbidding Walton from having any contact with the victim for five years.
Mrs Sati Ruck prosecuting said Walton became angry playing the computer games and had picked up the five inch kitchen knife.
After sticking the knife into a chair, he stabbed his girlfriend in the back of her hand before punching and slapping her in the face.
Mr Malcolm Fowler defending said Walton was ashamed of his actions and regarded his behaviour as being "stupid and immature." He told the court that Walton had learned a hard lesson and had now vowed to keep away from cannabis.
"He is a seriously damaged young man," said Mr Fowler.
"He knew, having seized the knife, that he was in a volatile state and rang the police."
