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Hammer thug gives 'fantastic' explanation

Scales of justice
Scales of justice

by Keith Hunt

A thug who broke into his ex-girlfriend's home at night and launched a terrifying hammer attack on her new boyfriend has been locked up indefinitely.

Stephen Sage was given the sentence for public protection after a judge decided he presented a risk of causing harm in future.

The 22-year-old father, of Hampshire Drive, Maidstone, will serve a minimum of three years, less time spent in custody, before the parole board considers his release.

He was out with friends on May 15. They all went to Leysdown and then returned at night to Maidstone.

They went to a garage close to the home of Sage's former girlfriend of four years Kelly Johnston and he went off on his own.

Maidstone Crown Court heard mother-of-two Miss Johnston was in bed with Daniel Brook at about 1am when Sage burst in and struck out with the hammer.

Mr Brook was left covered in blood with wounds to his head, leg and arm. Miss Johnston was hit on the knee.

Sage eventually fled from the house and drove off with his friends.

He admitted aggravated burglary and assaulting Miss Johnston, causing actual bodily harm.

Keith Middleton, defending, said Sage claimed he had the hammer because he and his friends were planning to steal a "whacking plate" and he forgot he had it in his trousers when he entered the house.

But Judge Jeremy Gold QC said: "We do live in the real world and that is a fantastic explanation - truly fantastic.

"It absolutely defies belief that a man goes into his former partner's house with a hammer in his possession and doesn't know he has a hammer.

"Please don't expect me to swallow for one millisecond the suggestion he didn't know full well he had a hammer when he went into the house."

Mr Middleton said while at the garage Sage realised he was next door to his former partner's home and in his drunken state, and having taken cannabis, he intended to go and see the two young children, one of whom was his.

"He said he heard the couple in Miss Johnston's bed," said Mr Middleton. "He felt anger and distress. This was not an intended attack."

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