'Householder slashed me with knife', says burglar

A BURGLAR claims he was slashed with a knife after he was disturbed by a householder.

Michael Arthur Wood, 26, was found cowering in a corner of a room with knife wounds on his face and hands.

He had broken into a house in Grasby Road, east Hull, when he was confronted by the householder.

Police were unable to prove he had been attacked with a knife by the occupier, who admitted punching Wood but denied stabbing him.

He has not been prosecuted.

Jharna Jobes, prosecuting Wood, said: "A neighbour saw two men going around the side of the house and then heard the scraping and banging of glass. They contacted the occupier, who returned to the house.

"The witness then appeared inside the house, who found the defendant cowering in a corner. He had injuries to his face and hands and his gloves had been slashed, all from what appeared to be a knife.

"There has obviously been some sort of altercation there, but the difficulty has been finding out who did what. The complainant doesn't accept causing injuries to the defendant, but someone clearly has."

The witness told police Wood was saying: "Keep him away from me".

Mrs Jobes said: "The officer who entered said the defendant's gloves were soaked in blood.

"The injuries to his face and hands were short, slim, clean cuts, as though they had been made with a knife.

"There were sharp cuts on the gloves as well, which appear to have been made with a knife."

Wood was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he had five stitches for cuts to his cheek and two stitches in his hand.

He told police he believed he had been hit with a rolling pin or baseball bat.

The householder said he punched Wood, who admitted burgling the property on February 25 when he appeared at Hull Crown Court.

Mrs Jobes said: "He said he must have taken the knife from the defendant, but that he left it on the coffee table."

Wood was originally charged with aggravated burglary, but police could not prove he had taken the knife into the house or used it. None of his fingerprints were found on the weapon.

Another man was arrested on suspicion of burglary, but no further action was taken against him.

Equipment to grow cannabis was found upstairs in the house, although no plants were there.

Representing Wood, barrister Anil Murray said: "He had been drinking with someone else, who said he knew there was some cannabis there.

"He has nothing for house burglary on his record and has been in custody for three months on remand."

Wood was sentenced to a two-year community order, including 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must also undergo 12 months of supervision by the probation service and complete an alcohol activity requirement.