A petty row over a £1 coin for a shopping trolley at a B&M store ended in a vicious knife fight. Gary Layhe and another man both pulled knives on each other following the shocking incident in Kirkby, Merseyside.
A brave member of the public disarmed Layhe and unsuccessfully tried to take the blade from the other knifeman, Liverpool Crown Court heard. The row was sparked by a disagreement over a £1 coin for a shopping trolley, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Prosecutor Gerald Baxter said: "Layhe took hold of the other man from behind in a chokehold and that the man received two wounds to the side of his neck and a small wound to the back of his neck. The defendant, Layhe, received two wounds to the back of his wrist and hand."
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Onlooker James Catterall 'bravely intervened' and separated them, 'taking a craft knife from Layhe and also unsuccessfully tried to disarm the other man'. Mr Baxter added: “The police came and the defendant was interviewed and said he did not know it was an offence to have that knife, and said he had been using it to cut up carpet tubes from the local carpet shop.”
Layhe, 44, formerly of Overton Close, West Vale, Kirkby, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article. A charge of assault against him was dropped and two similar charges against the other man were also abandoned by the Crown.
Judge Anil Murray said that normally 'people who carry knives either aggressively or defensively go straight to prison because the danger in carrying a knife is if trouble arises there is the temptation to use them as you did'.
But he described the case as 'highly unusual' and said an assault charge against Layhe had not been pursued 'as the Crown could not say' he was the aggressor. The judge said: "I have to assume when you took the knife out and used it you were acting in self-defence."
Layhe was sentenced him to seven months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activities and attend a probation ‘stepping stones’ programme.
Tom Watson, defending, said Layhe, was diagnosed as suffering from learning difficulties when he was 12. He has never had paid employment but carries out voluntary work as a driver’s mate for a charity.
Mr Watson said: "He was living a clearly lonely and isolated life and he cut up carpet rolls to try to keep rats away. He should not have had the knife with him and he did not think about the consequences. He will never make that mistake again.
“He did not stop to think and he needs to address that and needs assistance." He said Layhe now lives with his parents in Lancashire and now has structure in his life.
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