Jailed after blind woman knife attack

by KEITH BULL

A BURTON man who stabbed a blind woman and knifed her partner in a fit of drunken violence has been jailed indefinitely.

Alcoholic James Barker was branded a danger to the public by Mr Justice Saunders, who ordered that he should serve a minimum of three years behind bars.

Barker used an 8in kitchen knife to stab Josephine Haynes, 62, in the back, causing her lung to collapse and threatening her life, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Ms Haynes, who is registered blind and requires voice recognition, also had lacerations to her neck and head, Peter Grice, prosecuting, told the court.

Her partner, Roy Sharratt, who was trying to protect her and intervened, suffered lacerations to his head and hand.

Barker, 41, of All Saints Road, Burton, admitted wounding Ms Haynes with intent to do her grievous bodily harm and wounding Mr Sharratt.

The court heard that Barker had previously been jailed in 2000 for five years for jabbing a broken bottle into a man's neck.

The judge said he had 'no hesitation' in ruling that Barker was a danger of causing serious harm to the public.

In setting a three-year term, the judge said: "It does not mean he will be released at the end of that period. The parole board will not release him if they consider him to be a danger to the public."

Mr Grice said the knifings happened on April 16 this year, at the home of Barker's partner, Denise Peach, in All Saints Road.

Ms Haynes and Mr Sharratt were visiting when Barker came in 'storming drunk', according to Ms Peach.

An argument broke out between Ms Haynes and the defendant, who put a pillow over her face and hit her. When Mr Sharratt intervened, Barker fetched a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Ms Haynes.

After the attack, a taxi was called to take the victims to hospital.

Barker meanwhile went to the home of a 'drinking buddy', Malcolm Murray, in King Street.

When police got there in the early hours of the morning, Barker tried to impersonate the householder, but was arrested.

He told officers he had drunk 'a considerable amount' of alcohol and had no real recollection of what happened, said Mr Grice.

Darron Whitehead, defending, said: "There was an argument which led up to the attack. The pair had argued before and they were arguing on this day. The pushing of the pillow over her mouth was designed to stop her shouting at him.

"Through a cocktail of drink and medication, this defendant lost his self control, he armed himself with a weapon from the kitchen and used it. Roy Sharratt went to the assistance of his partner and the injuries he received were in the course of trying to defend himself."