Dudley man knifed driver in row over car crash

Geoffrey Clee left the man with a ‘significant injury’ after the victim and his friend went to ‘apologise’ for the Dudley collision, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 50-year-old, who told arresting officers he wanted to kill the man, was handed a suspended sentence after Judge Dean Kershaw concluded he had the knife to ward off trouble or for protection.

Sentencing, the judge said: “When you were younger you were a thoroughly unpleasant man. You were violent when you drank too much and you did not control yourself.

"[But in the last 15 years] you have been a thoroughly good father and grandfather.

"When they came to your house in the early hours of the morning, their aim must have been to ensure it went no further.

"The mistake that you made was taking the knife with you and not remaining where you were and simply calling the police.

“This was brought to your door, not the other way round.”

The victim was on his way to his mother’s Dudley home in Bennett’s Hill when he reversed into a Mini parked on the side of the road belonging to Clee’s wife.

Clee, of Shirley Road, Dudley, heard the crash and the pair argued outside over the incident on August 6 last year.

The victim returned to the street later that night, knocking on Clee's front door at about 1am.

He wanted to apologise and told Clee his friend could fix any damage without informing insurers, prosecutor Mr Martin Liddiard said.

But the defendant was unhappy as he wanted the vehicle fixed by regulated Mini dealers and pulled the blade from his waistband before stabbing the man.

Clee told police two people had come to his home ‘banging on his window’.

Mr Liddiard claimed Clee was 'far from being apologetic' and said to officers: "I hope he is dead because if not, I'll kill him tomorrow."

He admitted wounding his victim and was handed a 20-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 100-hours unpaid work.