Drunken Simon Ward jailed after holding kitchen knife to mum's throat in Margate
by Paul Hooper
A drunken son grabbed his terrified mother's hair and held a
kitchen knife to her throat, snarling: "I'm going to kill you. I'm
going to cut your face apart!"
Samuel Ward, 20, had lost his temper after a family row about
"rumours and gossip" about his girlfriend's fidelity.
Mother Amanda Ward ordered him to leave - but was then attacked
by her son who threatened to firebomb the house.
A court heard although she believed the death threats, she
has since forgiven him – and sent a letter to a judge telling how
Ward (pictured right) was a good son when sober.
But her plea did not stop Ward, of St Peter's Footpath,
Margate, from being jailed for two years for making threats to
kill, criminal damage, assault and making threats to damage
property. He had admitted the five offences.
Judge Simon James praised Mrs Ward, who despite her son's
"appalling behaviour", for the letter – even though she still
refuses to allow Ward back into her house.
He told Ward: "Her forgiveness and compassion is to be commended
and you are fortunate to have your family's support and an
opportunity, over time, to build bridges."
Prosecutor Vivian Walters told Canterbury Crown Court how the
bust-up began in December after Ward arrived drunk at the
house.
The row began over his girlfriend's faithfulness during a
relationship break, resulting in Ward smashing a drawer.
"Mrs Ward was upset and screaming and he then picked up a bread
knife and put the blade to her throat saying: 'I'm going to kill
you.. I'm going to cut your face apart!'
"She seriously feared he would cut her throat – and could smell
the alcohol on his breath."
"Her forgiveness and compassion is to be commended and you are fortunate to have your family’s support" – Judge Simon James to Ward about his mother
A family friend
managed to disarm Ward, who then claimed he was having an asthma
attack and was released.
But he tried to pick up the knife again to carry on "his tirade
of abuse" which resulted in his threats to petrol bomb the
house.
He screamed: "I am going to petrol bomb your home, bitch. I wish
you were dead", before punching a window as he left the house with
his girlfriend.
Mrs Ward, who suffered bruises and cuts in the attack, would
later tell police: "When Samuel becomes drunk he gets violent. When
he said he would burn down my house, I believed he was capable of
doing it."
The judge told him: "You made those threats knowing your mother,
sister and 11-year-old brother shared that house.
"Your own mother also believed that when you are intoxicated you
are capable of carrying out that threat.
"Apparently angry and frustrated about learning about the
alleged infidelity of your partner, you chose to take things out on
your mother.
"I accept that in the cold sober light of day you genuinely
regret what you have done. But this is far too serious for a
sentence of anything but an immediate custodial
sentence."
Samuel Ward was jailed at
Canterbury Crown Court
Judge James said he hoped Ward would have "the courage" to
seek help with his drinking problems after being released.
Kerry Waitt, defending, said: "He had drunk a great deal of
alcohol that day and there were tensions within the family because
he had recently got back with his girlfriend and there were rumours
and gossip about what she had been doing when they were
separated.
"That was the catalyst which sparked the incident."
20/02/13
- Click here for more Thanet news...
- Click here for more news from across the county...