Jail for disgraced soldier who attacked man with chair leg

Preston Crown Court heard how Joseph David Arnfield, 25, had consumed half a litre of vodka in the hour before he attacked victim Stefan Golec at his Blackburn home around 7.30pm of April 23.

Prosecuting, Robert Wyn-Jones told the court how Arnfield had seen Mr Golec’s girlfriend on a shopping street in Blackburn minutes before the attack and made threats towards him. She rang Mr Golec to warn him and also contacted the police.

Mr Wyn-Jones said Arnfield followed Ms Golec’s girlfriend back to the couple’s flat in Accrington Road, Blackburn.

The court heard how Mr Golec spotted Arnfield coming towards his flat from a window and armed himself with a hammer for protection.

Arnfield armed himself with a piece of wood from a broke chair and went towards the flat.

Mr Wyn-Jones said a scuffle ensued in the hallway of the flat where Mr Golec was forced to hit Arnfield with the hammer three times to free himself.

Arnfield was arrested at the scene and kicked the side of the police van on the way to Greenbank Police Station, Blackburn.

During his police interview he tried to blame Mr Golec for the violence.

Mr Wyn-Jones said: “In their victim impact statements both the victim and his girlfriend felt a great deal f distress as a result of everything that happened. The girlfriend has been taking diazepam. She is very wary of being alone in her flat amd she has stopped socialising.”

Arnfield, of Barnes Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assault.

Defending, Clare Thomas said her client , who received dishonourable discharge from the army when he was 19 after failing a drug test, was looking to turn his life around and re-join the military.

Ms Thomas said: “The defendant is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour. He had drank half in the region of half a litre of vodka in the hour before this event.

“He knows he’s behaved badly. He knows there are other ways this could and should have been handled.”

Judge Simon Newell jailed Arnfield for 12 months.