Father attacked by drug user
A DRUG user bit his father during a family row then threatened to stab his family with hypodermic needle, a court heard.Justin Howard admitted common assault because of the bite, prompting his father, Barry, to plead with South East Suffolk Magistrates to help his son.
By Amanda Cresswell
A DRUG user bit his father during a family row then threatened to stab his family with hypodermic needle, a court heard.
Justin Howard admitted common assault because of the bite, prompting his father, Barry, to plead with South East Suffolk Magistrates to help his son.
Howard had a heated argument with his sister, Rachel, said Gareth Davies, prosecuting.
The court heard Barry tried to intervene. So Howard lunged at his father who put him in a headlock.
In retaliation the 25-year-old bit his father then ran upstairs returning brandishing a hypodermic needle to scare them.
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"He said I'll stab all of you and lunged forward," said Mr Davies. Howard held the needle against his sister's back.
He went back upstairs returning with a hammer and swung it around threatening his family if they called the police. He has now moved from his parent's address to Cambridge Drive because of the row.
Mr Davies read a statement from Howard's father who said that drug and drug abuse was the cause of his son's problems.
His father said Howard was under the influence of drugs because "he could see it in his eyes".
He asked that part of his son's sentence could include a drug's rehabilitation course.
Dino Barricella, mitigating, asked the bench to consider only the bite after an affray charge was dropped saying: "It was a typical family argument. Both sides perhaps lost control of themselves. There was some element of provocation. Both parties argued.
"His father grabbed him in a headlock causing him to bite out at his father. It was a minor assault. A one off bite not a serious punches and kicks. It ended as quickly as it started."
Chairwoman of the bench Wendy Tolliday called for sentencing to be adjourned until May 27 for reports to be made which would consider a drug treatment and testing order.
"The aggravating feature is that you did bite your father and did go upstairs and get needles and a hammer," she said. She added: "But it was a minor injury."
