A man stabbed his cousin in a kitchen after a row erupted over cannabis. Levi Jones had argued over a small amount of the drug then damaged the victim’s tools.
But the row escalated and Jones then plunged a breadknife into his victim’s back. Caernarfon Crown Court heard Jones, now 20, of Stratford Close, Wrexham, poses a high risk of harm to the public.
A judge sent him to a Young Offenders Institution for 14 months for wounding. Four more months in detention from a suspended sentence from an earlier offence were also activated. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
Prosecutor Catherine Elvin said Steven Davies had been living at his Nain’s home in June last year. His cousin Jones, who is nine years younger, visited.
Mr Davies made breakfast and got ready for them to play on his Xbox downstairs. But an argument broke out over cannabis. Mr Davies felt there was a “shift in the defendant’s mood”, said Ms Elvin.
Jones asked for a small amount of cannabis but Mr Davies refused to give it him. Jones then demanded money from Mr Davies.
Then Mr Davies found Jones had “trashed” his tools by damaging a drill and a carpet stretcher. Soon afterwards Mr Davies was at the top of the stairs and the defendant Jones came up the stairs towards him.
In a panic Mr Davies kicked out and Jones tried to push him upstairs. Mr Davies told him to leave but then heard Jones call Mr Davies’s pregnant girlfriend, who was also in the property, a “rat”.
The two men confronted each other in the kitchen. Mr Davies said Jones pushed him backwards.
Mr Davies felt a “pinch” and something on his clothing. He noticed blood “pouring” out of him and realised he had been stabbed.
Ms Elvin said it seemed the defendant had moved his hand around Mr Davies’ torso and stabbed Mr Davies in his back with a breadknife causing a four cm wound.
Mr Davies was in “panic and shock” but managed to run outside to a pub. Police were called and Jones was arrested.
He told officers he had been washing the dishes and was cleaning the breadknife. “He said he did not realise he had it in his hand when he stabbed Steven in purported self-defence,” said Ms Elvin.
In a statement Mr Davies said he decided to support the prosecution because he feared the harm Jones might cause others. He wants him to get the help he needs.
Mr Davies said social services had had to become involved (in the child rearing) due to the incident which had caused a strain on his family. Oliver King, defending, said Jones had had a “dysfunctional” upbringing.
His mum and dad had been to prison – his dad for murder, although no further details were given in this hearing. He went to live with his grandmother, then his brother died.
He realises the consequences of stabbing his cousin could have been far more serious. “Steven Davies could have died if he had stabbed an organ. He’s sorry,” said Mr King.
He now accepts he can’t claim it was self-defence when he stabbed his victim in his back. “He wants help and support to get through life without resorting to violence.”
He hasn’t had a mum or dad to set an example and needs help for his anxiety and depression and to process grief, added Mr King.
The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told Jones he had caused a “nasty wound”. A report concluded he poses a medium risk of re-offending and a high risk of causing harm to the public, added the judge.
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