Jail for man who struck victim with bottle and wielded knife in Cambridge hostel dispute
A man who wielded a knife and use a bottle to attack another man at a Cambridge hostel has been jailed.
Thomas Smith, 46, approached the man, who is in his 20s, when he returned to the hostel in Walnut Tree Avenue where they both lived, just after 10.30pm on November 15.
Smith asked the victim for a cigarette as they walked into a communal living area. An argument broke out about Smith's partner, which escalated and Smith lunged towards the victim with a glass bottle.
The man backed away into a corridor but Smith followed him and struck him with the bottle as he defended himself with his arms.
When the victim kicked out in self-defence, Smith threatened to kill him, then followed him outside, wielding the glass bottle and a knife behind his back.
He made numerous attempts to stab the man before backing away and again threatening to kill him.
The man fled to a friend’s home before contacting police the next morning.
Smith, of Walnut Tree Avenue, Cambridge, was arrested on November 17 and later pleaded guilty to assault by beating and threatening a person with a blade in a public place.
He was sentenced to 21 months in prison at Huntingdon Law Court on Thursday (January 21).
Det Con Ciaron Hickey said: “Smith’s violent actions were completely unacceptable and it's sheer luck the victim wasn't seriously injured.
“There’s no place for knife crime or dangerous behaviour like this in Cambridgeshire and I hope Smith will use his time in prison to reflect on what he did.”
Anyone who knows someone who carries a knife or offensive weapon can report it online or anonymously, via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.
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