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Man who stabbed pub landlord is jailed
A MAN involved in a series of
incidents, culminating in the
stabbing of a publican, has
been jailed for three years and
nine months.
Tony Kristopher Cowan
carried out the reprisal attack
after being thrown out of
Chesters Wine Bar, in
Chester-le-Street, for allegedly
spitting chips on furniture,
on February 12.
Durham Crown Court was
told Cowan was asked to stop,
but refused, and licensee Alan
Cassidy had to pin him to the
floor in trying to eject him from
the Front Street premises.
Ron Mitchell, prosecuting,
said Cowan was put out with
the help of others, but made
several attempts to re-enter.
He appeared to leave the
vicinity, but returned later
with the 4in knife, and managed
to get in via the front
door.
Mr Mitchell said Cowan
made threats to Mr Cassidy
and lashed out with the knife,
causing a blow to his arm.
Mr Cassidy used a bar stool
as protection, but suffered a
superficial injury to the left
arm and a wound to his
elbow, which needed seven
stitches.
Assisted by others at the
pub, Cowan was overpowered
and police were called.
Cowan, 23, formerly of Pelton,
now of no fixed abode,
admitted unlawful wounding
and possessing an offensive
weapon. Cowan also admitted
charges of affray and possessing
an offensive weapon,
a samurai sword, arising from
a separate incident, in Murray
Road, Chester-le-Street, last
October, plus dangerous driving,
in March 2006.
Stephen Duffield, mitigating,
said Cowan had been taking
drugs due to depression
following the death of his father
and after being made redundant.
Describing his behaviour in
the pub as, "totally inexcusable",
Recorder David Dobbin
imposed three years for that
incident, with nine months
added for the affray and three
months to run concurrently
for the driving offence.
1:34pm Friday 4th July 2008
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