Knifeman stabbed neighbour in buttock
A man who took the law into his own hands and stabbed and attacked a troublesome neighbour has been spared an immediate stint behind bars.
Kevin Jones appealed for help to both police and the local authority in a bid to end the misery but the problems continued.
There was so much disturbance from the property and its occupants that Jones's wife had to go to stay with relatives to sleep.
Jones, who suffered from depression, was finally pushed over the edge and took the law into his own hands, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The unemployed 56-year-old burst into the Wednesfield home of the person blamed for the anti-social behaviour and attacked him with a knife and wooden baton, explained Mr Matthew Rowcliffe, prosecuting.
The victim was hit over the head and stabbed in the buttock during a scuffle that took place after he opened his front door on March 1 last year. The pair grappled on the floor before the victim ran off to raise the alarm.
Jones was originally charged with wounding with intent but that was later reduced to assault by the prosecution because of the 'unusual' circumstances of the case.
Jones, who was living in Marchend Road, Wednesfield, at the time but is understood to be in the process of moving, pleaded guilty to assault and was given a year jail sentence suspended for 18 months. The court heard he is now receiving counselling for mental issues.
Recorder Jason MacAdam told him: "You took the appropriate steps to address this anti-social behaviour with both the police and local authority but to no avail. In the circumstances, you were let down, but all of that is no excuse for you to commit the offence that you did.
"I am satisfied, as are the prosecution, that a charge of wounding with intent was not appropriate in this case because this unacceptable use of violence was triggered by unacceptable behaviour which pushed your frail mental health to the extreme. You are taking measures to move away from that property and are now engaging with the mental health services."
Recorder MacAdam said the defendant had not committed any other offence for at least 20 years and concluded: "Your actions were particularly out of character. You are essentially a good man who is known for your generosity to others."
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