Man jailed for attack hours after leaving court (From The Advertiser Series)

Man considered 'danger' jailed for attack at Meadowfield hours after leaving court

6:17pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Bruce Unwin, Chief Reporter (Durham)

A DEFENDANT warned not to go to his ex-partner’s home by magistrates, headed straight to the address on leaving court.

But on turning up unexpectedly, in breach of a restraining order, Gary Todd came across a man at the premises with his former partner.

Durham Crown Court was told he, “put two and two together, and got five”, before attacking the visitor.

Todd, who was heard entering the house, in Meadowfield, near Durham, by the back door, headed upstairs.

David Wilkinson, prosecuting, said Todd, who was shouting and swearing, pushed the other man to the landing floor, before throwing several punches about his head.

He used a fork to try to stab him in the chest, and, following a further heated exchange, grabbed a wooden bat, which was hanging on the back of a bedroom door.

Mr Wilkinson said Todd used it to land three “forceful blows” to the victim’s head.

The injured man fled the house and reported the attack at a nearby shop, before being taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr Wilkinson said he suffered wounds of between 3 and 5cms from the forehead to the crown of his scalp, which were either glued or stitched.

The incident took place in Frederick Street South, at about 4pm, and Todd was arrested after a search of the area, at 8.30pm.

Police recovered the bat from bushes at a playground in the vicinity.

Mr Wilkinson said Todd has previous convictions for assaults, including violence involving his former partner after which the restraining order was imposed.

The court was told on the day of the attack, on November 21, he had been at court for a previous breach, when the terms of the order were fully outlined.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Todd, “foolishly” went to his ex-partner’s home to collect clothing on leaving court.

But he said he, “has a desire to address the risk factors”, including alcohol intake, behind his violent outbursts.

Todd, 45, of no fixed abode, admitted unlawful wounding.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Christopher Prince said as he considers Todd poses a “significant risk” to the public, he ordered that two-thirds of the sentence, instead of the usual half, must be spent behind bars.

Todd will then be on licence for an extended three-year period.