Joseph Brown, 40, of Manningham Road in Anfield, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after attacking his former partner with a meat cleaver and threatening to kill her. Liverpool Crown Court heard how Brown accused his ex-girlfriend, Carlie Salters, of murdering their late son before launching the assault.
Attack details
The court was told that Brown and Ms Salters had been in a relationship for 23 years before separating in 2021. Despite a restraining order banning him from contacting her for a decade, the former couple were socialising with a friend at an address on Winchester Road on May 12 this year. They later returned to Brown's home, where they continued drinking.
While Ms Salters fell asleep on a sofa, she awoke to find Brown screaming that she was a murderer and accusing her of killing their son. When she tried to leave, he warned her: "You're not going anywhere. I'll f***ing kill you."
Brown then hit her on the head with his mobile phone, spat in her face, and damaged her glasses beyond repair. He dragged her from the sofa by her hair, placed her in a headlock, and twisted her head, leaving her fearing he was trying to break her neck.
Meat cleaver threat
After she screamed for help, Brown let go but retrieved a meat cleaver from the kitchen. He repeatedly attempted to headbutt her and slashed at her with the weapon while screaming he was going to kill her and everyone else. Police arrived and were eventually let in by Brown after he initially refused access, allowing Ms Salters to flee.
Brown has 26 previous convictions for 36 offences. He admitted making threats with an offensive weapon in a private place, assault by beating, criminal damage, and breaching a restraining order.
Court sentencing
Julian Nutter, defending, told the court: "Through me, he expresses his remorse. He has been in custody now for just over three months. He deeply regrets his behaviour. He does not wish to see this lady again and he has resolved not to allow anything like this to occur. There is a letter from his doctor, which gives something of a mental health background to this. There is, underlying all of this, grief in the true sense. That is what came out when the confrontation took place."
Judge Ian Unsworth KC said the incident was a "sad and serious example" of a "violation of the trust and security that normally exists in an intimate relationship". He noted: "I accept that real and genuine grief has, unfortunately, been very much a feature of your life and Carlie's life and your relationship. I have no doubt it was that grief, combined with high emotions, compounded with alcohol, that gave rise to events on that day."
Brown appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse and was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He was also handed a new indefinite restraining order.
