A woman who attacked a man with a kitchen knife after he made an insulting remark about her mother has been jailed for six years.
Melanie Ann Burnell, 20, of Maes Cybi, Holyhead stabbed Shane Boylan, now 24, once in the abdomen, a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
Mr Boylan, also from Holyhead, was rushed to hospital after the incident in the New Park Road and Maes Cybi area in the early hours of November 24 last year.
He required emergency surgery and 24 stitches inserted in the wound.
The court heard he has been left permanently scarred by the attack.
Sentencing Judge Philip Hughes said: “People who use knives must expect courts to deal with them robustly.”
He added there were several aggravating features in the offence including an element of premeditation and that it was a determined attack.
Gordon Hennell, prosecuting, said Burnell and the victim had been out in Holyhead that evening and had met up in the Maes Cybi area.
Both had drunk considerable quantities of alcohol.
“They knew each other and he engaged her in conversation. Mr Boylan has no recollection of making the remark but others nearby heard it.
“Burnell was seen to run to the house and return with a large kitchen knife and run towards Mr Boylan shouting 'I’m going to stab you.'
"She made several lunges towards him and stabbed him once in the abdomen.
“She immediately realised what she had done and went to his aid and apologised for what she had done.
“But it must be said she did try to hide the knife in a drain but it was later recovered.”
Police and paramedics were called and as Mr Boylan was taken to hospital Burnell was arrested.
Mr Hennell said she was interviewed later and accepted taking the knife and using it following the insulting remark.
Kim Halsall, for Burnell, said the incident arose because she had drunk “far too much alcohol”.
“I accept that is not mitigation but puts the incident in context.
“I hope the court accepts this young lady is truly sorry and remorseful,” the lawyer said.
Burnell wept as sentence was passed.
Members of her family, who were also in court, were also in tears.
After the hearing DC Catrin Hughes welcomed the sentence saying it was important the courts sent out a strong message that violent offences will not be tolerated.
She said: “I’m relieved that following surgery the victim has made a full recovery but his injuries could have been a lot worse and we cannot emphasise enough the dangers of knives.”
Friday, 20 June 2014
'I'm going to stab you': Woman jailed for six years over knife attack
A woman who attacked a man with a kitchen knife after he made an insulting remark about her mother has been jailed for six years.
Melanie Ann Burnell, 20, of Maes Cybi, Holyhead stabbed Shane Boylan, now 24, once in the abdomen, a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
Mr Boylan, also from Holyhead, was rushed to hospital after the incident in the New Park Road and Maes Cybi area in the early hours of November 24 last year.
He required emergency surgery and 24 stitches inserted in the wound.
The court heard he has been left permanently scarred by the attack.
Sentencing Judge Philip Hughes said: “People who use knives must expect courts to deal with them robustly.”
He added there were several aggravating features in the offence including an element of premeditation and that it was a determined attack.
Gordon Hennell, prosecuting, said Burnell and the victim had been out in Holyhead that evening and had met up in the Maes Cybi area.
Both had drunk considerable quantities of alcohol.
“They knew each other and he engaged her in conversation. Mr Boylan has no recollection of making the remark but others nearby heard it.
“Burnell was seen to run to the house and return with a large kitchen knife and run towards Mr Boylan shouting 'I’m going to stab you.'
"She made several lunges towards him and stabbed him once in the abdomen.
“She immediately realised what she had done and went to his aid and apologised for what she had done.
“But it must be said she did try to hide the knife in a drain but it was later recovered.”
Police and paramedics were called and as Mr Boylan was taken to hospital Burnell was arrested.
Mr Hennell said she was interviewed later and accepted taking the knife and using it following the insulting remark.
Kim Halsall, for Burnell, said the incident arose because she had drunk “far too much alcohol”.
“I accept that is not mitigation but puts the incident in context.
“I hope the court accepts this young lady is truly sorry and remorseful,” the lawyer said.
Burnell wept as sentence was passed.
Members of her family, who were also in court, were also in tears.
After the hearing DC Catrin Hughes welcomed the sentence saying it was important the courts sent out a strong message that violent offences will not be tolerated.
She said: “I’m relieved that following surgery the victim has made a full recovery but his injuries could have been a lot worse and we cannot emphasise enough the dangers of knives.”