Wem man jailed for threatening friend with knife and throwing vacuum cleaner
A man who threatened his friend with a knife and threw a vacuum cleaner at his partner in their home has been jailed.
Arron Bate turned up uninvited to the couple's home in Wem, gaining entry through an unlocked door and becoming "aggressive" and "violent" when he was asked to leave, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
He threw part of a vacuum cleaner at his friend's girlfriend after repeatedly fighting and punching her partner, a man he said he had known for years.
The court heard how at some point during the altercation a knife was used and the victim was left with a shallow cut to his eyebrow and lip. He also suffered from bruising on his collar bone and shoulder.
His girlfriend was left with a chipped tooth and a black eye from the cleaning device and the pair went to Princess Royal Hospital for treatment.
The court heard how it was unclear why Bate turned up at their home during the afternoon on November 10 last year.
Bate, 23, of New Street, in Wem, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared at court. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, of which he will serve half in custody and the rest on licence.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the incident went on for about five to 10 minutes before Bate left and returned to the property again.
He said the victim had felt "confused" and "disgusted" that Bate had come into their home and acted in the manner that he did.
Judge Peter Barrie, addressing Bate, said: "I accept that you were in an emotional state after spending the morning at a funeral.
"But none of that explains this outburst of violence visited on someone who had been a friend of yours for many years
"I still don't really understand why it happened and it was quite serious.
"More seriously that his girlfriend who was just a bystander and she took the full force of the cleansing device in her face, which may have caused long-term problems. It included the use of the knife.
"For some reason having left you went back later on whether to have another go or retrieve the knife."
The court heard Bate had apologised for his behaviour and said when he had thrown the vacuum he had not meant to hit anyone.
