Ipswich man jailed for 7 years after attacking his uncle with a hammer

Kevin Knights was struck on the top of his head from behind by his nephew Lee Darton and fell forwards on to the floor of his home in Montgomery Road, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

He rolled over on to his back and saw Darton standing over him, holding what appeared to be a hammer and then saw the round part of it coming towards him.

Mr Knights described putting his hand up to protect himself and the hammer striking his forehead and his hand.

He had then put his leg up to protect himself and suffered an injury below his knee and bruising to his toe.

Mr Knights said the incident ended when Darton stepped back and he managed to shut an inner door with his foot.

He then went into the bathroom and found a towel to wrap around his head which was bleeding.

Within a few minutes his younger brother came round and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Darton, 46, of Waltham Close, Ipswich, denied wounding Mr Knights with intent to do him grievous bodily harm and having an offensive weapon on November 2 last year, but was found guilty after a three-day trial.

The court heard that Mr Knights was one of eight children and had been living in the family home in Montgomery Road with his mother prior to her death in 2015.

Following her death the property was to be sold so the proceeds could be divided between the eight children.

Mr Knights told the court that he was not happy about having to move out, but accepted it was “inevitable”.

He told the court he had been upset that his sister Sandra had let herself into the house while he was out and there had been an argument.

He said Darton had telephoned him because he was upset because Mr Knights had upset his mother and had then turned up at his house.

Mr Knights denied he was injured when Darton punched him causing him to fall backwards and hit his head.

Toby Long for Darton said the attack was short lived and was the result of high emotions caused by family circumstances.