Teenage knife attacker after almost severed Consett woman's finger

Following an earlier dispute with the woman’s boyfriend at her home in Consett, where all had been drinking and smoking cannabis on October 4, Kori Stewart left the premises and returned to his nearby home after striking the other male on the head with a vodka bottle.

Durham Crown Court was told the woman followed and approached his home where she kicked at his windows before going to the door and shouting to him.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said she recalled Stewart coming to the door, also shouting, swinging at her with a knife.

Read more: Stanley row between neighbours, 66 and 72, spilled onto driveway

In response she put up her hands to protect herself but immediately saw the little finger on her right hand was hanging off.

She said that in response she went back to her home and picked up an item which she used to put out Stewart's windows.

Mr Baker said the defendant, who had called police more than once that evening himself, was arrested when officers arrived.

A large kitchen knife was recovered by police who saw the victim's almost severed little finger, which remained attached only by a film of skin or ligament.

But, Mr Baker said it became totally detached when she tried to put on her dressing gown.

She was taken to hospital where it was treated and efforts were made to re-attach the finger, but she may never be able to straighten it, despite receiving physiotherapy.

Read more: Stanley offender behind bars after breaching suspended sentence order

In her impact statement, read to the court, she said she often wakes up having had nightmares and suffers pain on a daily basis.

She said she is unable to perform simple everyday functions, like dressing, and has to take strong medication to dull the pain.

Mr Baker said due to glass shatter injuries to his legs, Stewart also was also taken to hospital with a police officer escorting him.

But while waiting to be treated he was abusive to staff and due to his disruptive behaviour hospital staff asked for him to be moved.

As he did so Stewart tried to head butt the officer, who managed to take evasive action before taking the defendant to the floor to restrain him.

When he was interviewed later about his conduct that night he admitted drinking and taking drugs at the woman’s home, but he said she slapped him, so he left.

He said he then heard banging at his front door and so rang the police, before some windows were smashed.

Stewart told police in response he picked up the large kitchen knife, which he waved at the woman when she banged at his front door.

But when he did so she raised her hands to him, so he again rang police to say he had just slashed her.

Mr Baker said the defendant also denied being abusive when taken to hospital.

Stewart was released under investigation and, several days later, caused a commotion, made threats and left a trail of damage at a guest house in Bowburn, to which he had been bailed.

When arrested for that he was again abusive to police and shoved an officer, so once more had to be restrained.

The 18-year-old defendant, whose address was given as Cragside Court, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, admitted charges of wounding, possessing a bladed article, criminal damage, common assault and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

His record was said to include past offences of common assault, criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker, twice, plus a public order matter.

Martin Scarborough, in mitigation, said it was in fear of being attacked himself, when there was banging at his door and his windows were smashed, that the defendant picked up the knife to “warn off” those outside his home.

But he said Stewart accepted “going too far” and causing the injury to the woman at his door.

Read next:

               Victim confronted in Stanley street and stabbed four times

               County Durham drug abuser wanted to activate suspended sentence

               Quartet jailed in separate cases at Durham Crown Court recently

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Mr Scarborough said the defendant, who is on the autism spectrum with some mental health difficulties, has been drinking since the age of 16 which has led him into trouble in recent years.

Judge James Adkin told Stewart given the serious injury caused to the victim and his “disgraceful” behaviour at the hospital, plus his other offending, only a sentence of some length was justified.

Giving some discount for his guilty pleas, Judge Adkin imposed a 32-month custodial sentence, of which Stewart must serve half as a youth offender before his release under licence supervision.