Stabbed in eye with meat fork

Published on 14th September 2006 in News

A 54-year-old man has been jailed for four years for stabbing an innocent teenager in the eye with a two-pronged meat fork - almost blinding him.

Michael Sweeting had been taunted in the past and his teenage victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he pipped his car horn and said hello to Mr Sweeting through the window, Hull Crown Court heard last Friday.

Mr Sweeting produced the fork he had collected from home after being taunted by youths earlier and asked the 17-year-old teenager if he was "taking the p***?" before stabbing him in the eye.

Crown Prosecutor Jharna Jobes said the attack, outside Minster Fisheries in Howden on June 2, happened after the teenager had taken pals in his car to buy fish and chips at around 5.45pm.

"Without warning, Mr Sweeting picked up the fork and stabbed him in the right eye," said Mrs Jobes. "Initially the victim felt no pain. He climbed out of the car, while a girl in the back began screaming."

She said the 17-year-old and Mr Sweeting began fighting before a pal of victim's was able to disarm Mr Sweeting. He was later found to have a carving knife and a Swiss army knife.

Mr Sweeting told police he could not be sure that the youth was responsible for remarks. He thought youths were going to tease him again.

The teenager was detained in Hull eye hospital as a surgeon feared damage to his eye meant he could lose sight. He had extensive lacerations to the cornea and a broken lens and underwent surgery to try to repair the damage. The initial prognosis was poor and doctors now say the apprentice engineer may have to wear a contact lense or undergo further eye surgery.

The teenager's plight was revealed in a witness statement read to the court, in which he said that he had been stabbed in the eye for no reason at all. "I have had to interrupt my engineering career. I have a life-time of pain and suffering thanks to him," said the victim.

Mr Sweeting, of Hailgate in Howden, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two offences of possession of a bladed article ? a kitchen knife and meat fork.

Defending barrister Mark Burk said Mr Sweeting knew he was going to serve a prison term but had a previously exemplary character, had bought his own home and run an allotment.

"He is regarded as a civil man, a polite man and an honest man," said Mr Bury. "Something must have happened for him to lose control in this way." He admitted Mr Sweeting had been drinking cider and been taunted with homosexual remarks, although he was not seeking to blame the victim.

He said the hard-working bachelor had suffered non-aggressive taunting for weeks and had reached the end of his tether. His behaviour was totally out of character and he had expressed remorse.

Judge Tom Cracknell ordered Mr Sweeting to stand in the dock as he told him: "For as far as I can see you led a blame-less life. You are 54 with no previous convictions. For some reason, no doubt because you consumed drink, you behaved in this quite disgraceful manner. You went home and armed yourself with a knife. You stabbed this teenager in the eye - of all places. At 17 he has had his life disturbed, all because people like you cannot control yourself through drink. People who carry knives must accept long sentences, regardless of their background."

The judge jailed Mr Sweeting for four years and ordered concurrent six-month sentences for the other offences.

Mr Sweeting was handcuffed and led away to cells below court and a waiting prison van to begin his prison term.

* Speaking to the Goole Times Nigel Cowgill, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Humberside, said: "This was a vicious, unprovoked attack on a defenceless young man which resulted in serious injuries being inflicted. It is clear that this incident will have a significant impact on the victim for a considerable time to come. The sentence imposed by the court shows how seriously the Criminal Justice System takes violent crime."