A man attacked his neighbour’s boyfriend with a knife in an argument over parking. Dan Haines, from Cwmbran, escalated the row in terrifying fashion as he walked from his home with a blade and injured the victim, Newport Magistrates’ Court heard.
Prosecutor Mike Williams said the attack happened in broad daylight on June 21 in West Roedin following a parking dispute between 61-year-old Haines and the victim. “After making threats, Mr Haines unlawfully assaulted the complainant,” said Mr Williams, who described the knife as curved. “The complainant suffered a cut to his chin and his thumb which went down into the nail.”
Ross Williams, mitigating, told the court: “There is dispute over the exact mechanism by which the injury was caused but it is accepted that my client left his property with a knife and that injuries occurred as a result of the knife.” Police attended after a 999 call and recovered the weapon.
Haines, of West Roedin, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and possession of a knife in public. He bowed his head as a statement from the victim was read in court. “This has made me much more cautious about going out,” it read. “I still do not like going back to the street where this happened. It happened in broad daylight and I was concerned about what else he could be capable of doing. God knows what his state of mind was. I still suffer pain in my thumb when it is pressed.”
The victim, who was visiting his partner at the time of the attack, said they had since split up. “Although I do not think [the assault] was the direct cause, I think it contributed to the separation,” he added. “We were very wary about going outside the address as we were concerned about seeing the defendant again. It took a toll on our relationship and we decided to end things.” The victim, who works in the electronics industry, also said the bandage on his thumb had made “fiddly tasks” difficult.
The court heard Haines’ previous conviction came in 1983. His solicitor said the assault was aggravated by the use of a knife and asked for a pre-sentence report to allow the magistrates to learn more about Haines’ mental health issues. Presiding Justice Shan Hodges adjourned sentencing to January 23.
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