Sadistic knife attacker jailed for 15 years (From The Northern Echo)

Sadistic Durham knife attacker jailed for 15 years

6:55pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Bruce Unwin, Chief Reporter (Durham)

A SADISTIC attacker carried out a sustained knife assault while in a jealous rage, a court was told.

Dylan Scott Brown, 21, was today (Thursday, March 7) given an extended 15 year prison sentence, 12 years of which must be served behind bars.

Durham Crown Court heard that Brown, who has previous violence on his record, was taunted in text messages from a girlfriend who claimed to be with another man, a mutual acquaintance, on a night when he refused her requests to visit her, instead choosing to see another woman.

He reacted to the taunts by driving to her flat, in Carrville, near Durham, and refused to accept her explanation that nothing untoward had taken place.

Jonathan Wilkinson, prosecuting, said he punched and kicked the other man who was sitting on the settee.

But he then locked the door, picked up a large kitchen knife and told him he was going to “chop him up”.

He tried to stab him in the leg to the horror of the on-looking woman, but Brown told her he would slash the victim every time she screamed.

Mr Wilkinson said he followed up his threat by deliberately slashing the back of the victim’s right hand three times, finishing with a final blow across the forehead.

His mood appeared to change and he even said he would take the badly bleeding man to hospital.

But, when the offer was refused, Brown left the flat, in Taylor Court, with the parting threat: “You haven’t been here tonight. I know where you live!”

The 23-year-old victim received hospital treatment for injuries, including repairs to severed tendons in his hand, but feared it would hinder him performing his job as a paint sprayer.

Brown, of Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road, denied wounding with intent.

He claimed the victim left the flat and returned later with the injuries, before himself using the knife to threaten Brown.

But he was convicted by a jury on the fourth day of his trial, in September.

Sentence was delayed awaiting preparation of reports, including psychiatric assessment.

His barrister, Stephen Constantine, handed three character testimonials to the court and told today’s sentencing hearing that Brown still maintains his innocence.

Mr Constantine added, however, it was clear from the evidence that Brown had not gone to the flat armed that night.

Imposing the extended sentence, Recorder Andrew Kelbrick told Brown: “This was committed deliberately, a pre-meditated, sustained, savage and sadistic attack which only partially fell short of torture.

“It was unquestionably committed in an uncontrolled rage, in sexual jealousy, having, yourself, indulged your own appetite that night.”