Willenhall father who punched wife and threw axe is locked up

A father of three, who chased a man down the street while wielding an axe, was starting an eight-month jail sentence today.

Paul Jones snapped after a 'friend' intervened in a domestic dispute, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 43-year-old, who had downed four cans of cider, lost his temper with his partner for unspecified reasons on her return from a children's party on July 15, explained Mrs Sati Ruck, prosecuting.

It was alleged he grabbed her round the throat and punched her in the face before throwing an axe which missed.

Then a friend, who was also at the address, warned him to behave. "The defendant took out another axe and chased the man down the street with it," continued Mrs Ruck.

He warned police when they arrived at the scene: "It will take more than three of you to arrest me. I'm Paul Jones. Read up on my record."

He calmed down after a Taser was drawn by one of the officers.

Jones admitted grabbing and punching his wife but did not accept he threw an axe at her. She refused to make a statement to police.

Miss Nicole Steers, defending, said: "He lost his temper after a difficulty arose at home and saw red when his friend intervened during a domestic dispute in his own home. He chased the man out of the property but did not intend to use the axe."

Jones, from Barnett Road, Willenhall, had 11 previous convictions involving 24 separate offences involving assaults, threats to kill, possession of a knife and two affrays but had not been in trouble for nine years, the court was told.

He pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and assault and was sent to prison by Judge James Burbidge QC who told him: "For some reason on this day anger got the better of you, although the exact reason for this is unclear.

"It is sad to see you resorting to type when it seemed you had turned the corner."