A thug wielded a knife at a brave couple who tried to stop him assaulting his girlfriend, a court has heard.
Ciaron Bank, 21, threatened to stab the passers-by as he attacked her in the street. The couple had been walking their dog in Skelmersdale when they first heard a commotion. As they got closer they realised they could hear a woman crying before they saw Banks pinning his girlfriend against a wall, LancsLive reports.
She shouted "he's hurting me" and as the couple walked past the terrified girlfriend reached out and grabbed the woman's hand. She tried to pull her away but Banks, from Wigan, dragged her back and as the man went to grab him he pulled out a knife, threatening to stab the couple in November, last year.
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David Clarke, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that as Banks threatened the man, his girlfriend was able to break free and escape. Banks was able to grab her again, marching her down the street, but two men pursued him and he was arrested by police.
Banks, of Eton Terrace, Wigan, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced. Nick Ross, defending, said Banks acted out of character on November 29 as he has no previous convictions. "This is a young man who a great deal of work needs to be done with", he said. "There are various issues".
Banks is said to have described it as "the silliest thing I've ever done."
Recorder Daniel Prowse, sentencing, said: "When people carry knives, whether or not they intend to use them, then others can end up being injured - sometimes fatally. This court has been involved in cases of murder when people have been stabbed with knives which the user did not intend to use.
"There was plainly an intention to cause fear of very serious violence when you told this couple you would stab them with the knife you had in your hand."
The court heard Banks' former partner did not give a witness statement or support the prosecution but it was able to go ahead after the couple identified the defendant.
Recorder Prowse said: "The way you treated your then partner was criminal and shameful. You threatened and perpetrated violence against her. It is clear you terrified that young woman.
"You ordered her to keep walking when she couldn't have been clearer that she didn't want to go with you. You treated her as less than an equal member of society. "
He handed Banks a 16 month sentence suspended for 18 months with 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirements. He also granted a certificate of commendation to the brave couple who tried to intervene.
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