By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 11:47, Tuesday, 10 July 2012

A disgruntled father of two young sons forced his way into his former partner’s home in Carlisle at night and attacked her husband in their bedroom.

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, David James Etheridge, 51, of Knowfield Avenue, Stanwix, admitted using violence to gain entry to the man’s home and an assault by beating on Mark Carruthers.

The court heard that the defendant, whose sons were living with his former partner and her husband, was not happy with the situation.

On the day in question, Mr Carruthers woke at 1.40am to the sound of his car alarm.

A stone had been lobbed through his car window.

He then heard the door of his house opening and suddenly Etheridge walked into the bedroom, armed with what appeared to be a bar but turned out to be cable.

The defendant swung it at Mr Carruthers but missed, and the latter then wrestled Etheridge to the ground.

Mrs Carruthers took the length of cable away as the defendant threw punches, one of which hit Mr Carruthers on the face.

Etheridge also headbutted his victim on the lip.

The defendant later told police that he had been to a barbeque and had drunk too much. He was unhappy about an earlier incident when Mr Carruthers had broken a window at his home, he said.

He had taken the cable to his victim’s home in order to scare him, he said, but he accepted that his behaviour that night was unacceptable.

Geoff Lockerbie, for Etheridge, said his client regretted what happened, and that his behaviour had been entirely out of character.

District judge Gerald Chalk drew back from jailing Etheridge, saying that custody would have an impact on the defendant’s children.

He imposed a 100-day jail term, suspended for a year, along with 60 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Etheridge must also pay £870 compensation to his victim.

The judge added: “This behaviour must never be repeated. If it is, and you come before me, you will go to prison for a long time.”

First published at 11:31, Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk