Thug jailed for kneecap attack

A thug who kneecapped a love rival in a terrifying attack at his Black Country home has been jailed for eight years.

Robert McKay, aged 30, of Florence Road, Smethwick, took terrible revenge after his sweetheart fell for another man.

He went round to the home of her new love Robert Tonks on July 15 last year, armed with a baseball bat, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday. McKay then stormed in to his flat in Wallace Close, Oldbury, and smashed him on the legs breaking his knee cap, said prosecutor Mr Gurdeep Garcha.

And after the beating the attacker threatened to kill the victim by running him over if he gave evidence against him.

McKay was arrested in December. He was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and intimidating a witness and received respective consecutive sentences of six and a half years and 18 months.

Judge Sybil Thomas told him: "These were very serious offences."

Speaking after the court case Detective Sergeant Mike Greenland, from Smethwick police, said: "This was a violent attack and I am pleased that was recognised by the judge when she passed her sentence.

"He forced his way into Mr Tonks' home and attacked him and left him in a pool of blood. He then threatened to run him over.

"This just goes to show that violence of this sort will not be tolerated."