Knife and hammer duo who attacked blind man jailed
Northumbria PoliceTwo men who attacked a blind man and threatened him with a knife and a hammer have been jailed.
Gary Clews, 34, and Craig Brown, 39, attacked the man at his home in Gateshead in April, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Clews also smashed the man's door with a hammer after he accused the victim of being disrespectful to the attacker's girlfriend.
Clews, who admitted assault, criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon, was jailed for two years and 10 months. Brown, who was found guilty of affray and possessing a knife, was jailed for two years and two months.
Clews and his girlfriend had gone to the victim's home at about 18:00 BST on 25 April with a verbal altercation ensuing, prosecutor Jessica Slaughter said.
The man was blind and needed carers to visit twice a day, the court heard.
The argument became physical when Clews punched the man and threatened to kill him with a hammer, Ms Slaughter said.
'Disgraceful attack'
Clews, of Whinlaw, Beacon Lough, then repeatedly struck the man's door with his hammer and told his partner to call Brown, who arrived with a large kitchen knife moments later, the court heard.
The victim retrieved a meat cleaver from his home and there was a short standoff in the street between the three men before the two attackers fled, Ms Slaughter said.
Both Clews and Brown had dozens of previous convictions each for offences including dishonesty and possessing weapons, the court heard, with Clews also having been previously jailed for wounding a person.
Brown, of Springfield Place, Gateshead, also had "too many" drunk and disorderly offences on his record to count, Ms Slaughter said.
Judge Carolyn Scott said the attack was "disgraceful" and jailed both men.