An 'irate' man threatened to kill a couple he blamed for his imprisonment before turning up at one of their mother's homes armed with a knife. Despite there being young children in the house, he stabbed the front door and tried to break it down.
Arthur Harris, 24, "completely lost his self control" after bumping into victim Shelby Chapman outside the Valley Tavern pub in Fleur de Lis near Blackwood on June 25. The defendant had previously been jailed for 20 months after fighting Ms Chapman's boyfriend Brendan Stone and later turning up at his mother's home with a knife.
Upon seeing Ms Chapman outside the pub, he stared at her, shook his head and called her slag, telling her to "get him down here". She told him to "f*** off" which enraged him, leading him to throw cans of alcohol on the floor and run up to Ms Chapman. He was seen on CCTV gesticulating at the victim irately. He shouted: "I'm going to kill you and Brendan, I went down for 20 months and it's all your fault I went to prison."
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard Harris tried to grab Ms Chapman's phone, shouting "I am going to kill you and I'm going to kill him". A man tried to restrain him and he kicked nearby cars as Ms Chapman was told to get back into the pub.
Prosecutor Andrew Davies said Harris left the area but armed himself with a knife and turned up at the home of Caroline Chapman, Ms Chapman's mother, where her children were staying. Upon the opening the door, the victim saw Harris who said: "Come on, I'm going to kill you. I am going to kill you all."
Mr Davies said: "He lifted both his arms above his head, with a knife in one of his hands, and lunged towards her as she was holding the baby. She slammed the door shut but he was trying to kick and break the front door." Mrs Chapman and her husband managed to hold the door back and prevent the defendant from entering their home. At one point, Harris struck the door with the knife, as the family locked themselves in the bathroom and called the police.
Mrs Chapman described herself as "upset, frightened and in fear for her safety and that of her grandchildren inside the house." Harris was later seen hiding behind a bin and upon being approached, he threw his hands in the air and ran off. He was arrested the next day and claimed he had an alibi.
Harris, of Grey Crescent, Tir y Berth, later pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, affray and criminal damage. The court heard he had previous convictions for assault, possession of an offensive weapon, affray and threats to kill. Mr Davies said Harris was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, after he had a fight with Mr Stone outside a pub before turning up at his mother's home with a knife, shouting "I am going to kill your son."
In mitigation, Stephen Thomas said his client had "completely lost his self control" but was "genuinely remorseful" having previously giving no thought to the children in the house. The barrister said the defendant accepted the feud had to come to an end.
Sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: "You completely lost your temper and had no control over yourself." She said the defendant had nobody else to blame but himself for being sent to prison.
Harris was sentenced to a total of 18 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order for 10 years.
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