A man stabbed a white van driver as his dad brandished a hammer and asked "do you want it?". Grandad David Lee, aged 69, picked up the weapon and wielded it above his head after Dean Purvis, the man behind the wheel, had been disarmed of the implement during a violent scuffle in the street with his son Christopher Lee.
It represented the second time that the dad and son had appeared alongside one another in court, having previously kidnapped a man while similarly armed with a hammer and threatened to gouge his eyes out. With both sides of their latest dispute having ended up in court, the Lees were ultimately spared prison today.
Background of issues with neighbours
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that there had been a "suggestion of a background of issues with other neighbours in the street" relating to Purvis prior to the altercation on Bala Street in Anfield at around 10.30pm on August 18 last year. Footage from a Google Nest camera from one house showed him pulling up in the road in his white van before Christopher Lee approached the driver's side window and began speaking to him.
Kevin Liston, prosecuting, described how the 33-year-old, of Hereford Drive in Netherton, was then captured stating "I'll get my one, I'll get my one then" before walking away and returning in possession of a knife. At the same time, Purvis exited his van carrying a hammer while being heard saying: "What are you gonna get out lad? Who you talking to?"
Both men were then seen exchanging blows while tussling on the bonnet of another vehicle, with Purvis been left with a number of stab wounds which were "thankfully superficial in nature" as a result. Several others were seen approaching the scene, with a woman shown kicking the hammer away after it had been dropped during the melee.
But David Lee, also of Hereford Drive, was shown picking up the weapon and brandishing it over his right shoulder while threatening "do you want it?" and having a cigarette in his mouth. Mr Liston said it was "accepted that he had not used the hammer to strike or deliver any blows to Mr Purvis directly" and added: "Mr Purvis, it is conceded, does not shy away from the confrontation. It is clear that there are blows swung with the hammer and blows struck with the knife."
The CCTV also captured one man saying "drop the knife lad, just drop it", before Purvis was heard pleading "ah s***, get me an ambulance please" before getting back into his van and driving away. Having then been seen reversing back into shot, he appeared to crash into another vehicle on the street before running back towards the scene and leaving on foot again as a male's voice was heard stating: "Stay there you little muppet."
Previous kidnapping and assault
Christopher Lee has four previous convictions for seven offences, including being sent to a young offenders' institute in 2012 for kidnapping and assault. The ECHO previously reported at the time that this saw the then 19-year-old, his dad and older brother bundle his sister's partner into the dad's works van.
The victim was battered with a hammer by his kidnappers, who also threatened to gouge his eyes out with a knife. The assault was only brought to a halt by the heroic actions of a concerned bystander who witnessed the incident unfolding and followed their vehicle in her car before raising the alarm.
Christopher Lee was then handed a community order in 2022 for assaulting his own sister and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, having threatened to stab both her and her dog. He was initially remanded into custody following his arrest on August 26 2025 before being granted bail around two weeks later, having remained on an electronically monitored curfew for more than a year since.
His counsel Desmond Lennon said: "It was an unpleasant, unnecessary incident, but it was not started by him. The road where this took place is a cul-de-sac. The van driven by Mr Purvis has gone very close to where the Lees reside. The incident develops. The doorbell footage shows that Mr Purvis was making threats towards the defendant.
"Mr Purvis comes over making threats with the hammer. The defendant's case is that he was struck by Mr Purvis with the hammer and reacted. It is quite clear that what he did was excessive and unnecessary in the circumstances. But, in the heat of the moment, in a situation like that, confronted with an aggressive individual, what may have started off as lawful self defence, he accepts, transformed itself into unlawful behaviour."
"Your honour will see that, at one stage, the hammer drops to the floor and Mr Purvis makes a concerted effort to try to retrieve it from the floor. Mr Purvis then takes his shirt off. He then lunges for the defendant. Mr Purvis is actively engaged in this incident of violence."
"The defendant ultimately has to recognise that his involvement was unnecessary and should not have taken place. He informs me, in very plain terms, that he is sorry that this took place. He felt it was important that he should express his regret.
"His record for violence has not manifested itself since 2022. The defendant is somebody who has significant issues of his own. The court knows that he has mental health issues and issues as far as substance abuse is concerned."
"He had a difficult relationship with his father. He left home at the age of 14 and reconciled with his father after the death of his mother seven years ago. His mother's death was a real setback for him. It had a big impact on his mental health. He still believes he has not fully recovered from this."
"He has been diagnosed with ADHD. He suffers with anxiety and depression. One of his children was put up for adoption. He is trying to rebuild those relationships, but is making very slow progress.
"At 33 years of age, with difficulties of his own, an immediate custodial sentence may prove to be a massive setback for him. I do urge the court to give him a chance today. That would be a warning for him that he has to behave himself. That may focus his mind on cooperating with agencies who can provide him with support and keep him out of trouble."
Widow 'preferred prison over working with probation'
David Lee meanwhile has a total of 16 previous convictions for 22 offences, but none since his 2012 appearance alongside his sons. Peter Killen, defending, told the court: "Mr Purvis came to this cul-de-sac, plainly, with a hostile intent. For the first minute of the footage, Mr Lee senior remains in the cab of his own vehicle. He was assisting his daughters, who live in that street."
When Judge Katherine Pierpoint pointed out that David Lee had said to the author of a pre-sentence report that he would "prefer to go to prison than work with probation", Mr Killen replied: "He is not intending to be disrespectful to court or the Probation Service at all. He is not a young tearway sticking two fingers up at the authorities."
"His position is a simple one. He was married for very many years. His wife died, as your honour has heard, and it had profound effect on the family, none more so than my lay client. Since then, he has lived a rather sad and lonely life in the rented address where they used to live together."
"His world has become increasingly small. It focusses mainly on his family. His anxiety during that time and his health and mobility has worsened. He says, by way of example, sometimes I find it difficult to get out of bed, sometimes I find it difficult to tie my shoes.
"He is a man who does not want the assistance of medical practitioners. He believes that he has a short amount of time left in life. He wants to live it as best he can physically. He does not want to be involved with doctors and tests and appointments. He just wants to live his life."
"His family take a different view. They have asked him to get things checked out. He does not want to go down that route. He would describe himself as extremely stubborn. That is the way he is living. He has got his family and he has got some lifelong friends in the Anfield area. He has been excluded from that area for about a year because of his tag."
"His belief is that he would not physically be able to do unpaid work. He would not be able to keep up with the regime of regular appointments. He believes that he would just fail.
"There have been previous convictions, but none for about 14 years. I hope it is fair to say, this is an offence that comes to him. He was minding his own busisness. He does not even immediately get involved, but then he does."
Knifeman 'risked extremely serious injury, if not worse'
Christopher Lee admitted affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place on the day he was due to stand trial, with an earlier offence of wounding with intent ultimately not proceeded with by the prosecution. Appearing in the dock in a grey On tracksuit, he seen wiping his eyes with a tissue before being handed a 27-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months with a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a building choices programme.
David Lee pleaded guilty to a public order offence. Wearing a black jacket and glasses, he received a six-month community order with a three-month GPS trail monitoring requirement and was fined £100.
Sentencing, Judge Pierpoint said: "This was an incident that took place on a residential street. At that time of night, the street would have been packed with people in their homes going about their lawful business.
"I accept that neither of you went looking out for trouble, but Mr Purvis arrived on the street in his van. There has clearly been some issue between him and your family previously. It did not in any way excuse what then took place in the street."
"Both sides are finding themselves before the courts. The public should not have to witness this type of serious violence and disorder taking place on a residential street."
"There was an altercation verbally between him and you, Christopher Lee, as a result of which Mr Purvis got out of his van armed with a mallet. You, Mr Lee, said you were going to get yours and arrived back armed with a knife.
"What happened then was a serious incident of disorder between the two of you, when both of you were using weapons to try to hurt the other. You can see that Mr Lee stabbed out at Mr Purvis on a number of occasions and significantly, in my judgement, continued to do so even when he had been disarmed."
"Those who carry knives risk causing extremely serious injury, if not worse. It is a matter of luck rather than design that you are not facing much more serious allegations in relation to this incident. That is why the courts view so seriously anybody who carries a knife on the street. In your case, it was used."
Judge 'concerned grandad's attitude'
Turning to David Lee, the judge said: "Clearly, this was not of your making. You were there at the scene. I am sure you did not want to get in any trouble that evening, but you did end up getting involved.
"It is still a serious matter. There will have been kids in bed looking out of the window, or, if they did not see it, hearing what was going on, grown men fighting, making threats. I accept that you did not go armed, but you did pick up that mallet."
"I am sure that you never expected to find yourself back in the dock. You have convictions for violence, but they are of some age. I am concerned about the attitude that you have shown. You did plead guilty, and that shows you accept some wrongdoing. It may be that you show little insight into your offending behaviour, but I show regard to that plea."
"I accept that, over the last few years, life has not been easy for you. If you find yourself back in a dock again, you are likely to be sent to custody, whatever your age and whatever your sad personal circumstances are."
Judge Pierpoint meanwhile told Christopher Lee: "It is clear that you have got your own issues. You have not had an easy start in life. I do not doubt that you have been affected by the very sad death of your mother. You have your own issues in relation to your mental health and susbtance misuse. That does not excuse this type of offending behaviour."
"I have regard to the fact that you spent a short period of time in custody and have been on a qualifying curfew, a restriction on your liberty for a long period of time. You have now expressed some remorse for what you got yourself involved in, and I take account of your personal circumstances and the issues that you have."
"When one looks at that footage and you arming yourself with a knife, one may say that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence. However, considering the time you have spent on a tag, the time you have spent in custody and your guilty pleas, I have decided, in your case, that I can suspend that sentence.
"You need to understand how close you have come to being returned to custody today. If you do not stick to this, it is your own fault. You will find yourself immediately going to custody. Seize the opportunity that I have given you today."
Purvis, of Bala Street, previously admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place in relation to the same incident. The 37-year-old will be sentenced at a later date.
