Brierley Hill man jailed for knife attack to settle school score (From Halesowen News)

Brierley Hill man jailed for knife attack to settle school score

3:23pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News

A BRIERLEY Hill bricklayer who attacked a man with a knife to settle a score dating back to his school days has been jailed.

Neil Totney, aged 21, was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs when he lunged at Andrew Mallen with a lock-kife in a Halesowen shop.

Totney was jailed for a year at Wolverhampton Crown Court after Judge Martin Walsh was told he held a grudge against Mr Mallen because he felt he had assaulted him when they were both at school.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court Totney spotted Mr Mallen in Windmill Hill Stores as he walked past and he began hurling abuse in his direction.

He said Totney, who had known Mr Mallen since they were both about three years of age, went into the shop and asked him if he wanted to fight.

Totney then produced the knife which had a four-inch blade and swung it close to Mr Mallen, but he was then grabbed by the shopkeeper and disarmed.

After his arrest he told police he had little recollection of the incident because he had been drinking adding: "I know I'm off my head."

Totney, of High Street, admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon and was told by the judge it was clear at the time he had downed a considerable amount of alcohol together with drugs.

The judge added: "Then, by chance, you came across this person with whom you held a grudge. You drew the knife and you sought to attack him.

"You swung at him and it was only the intervention of the shopkeeper that brought the matter came to an end."

Ekwall Tiwana, for Totney, said his client had been dependent on drink and drugs but he was now taking determined steps to reduce the problem.

He said he did have a long standing grievance against Mr Mallen and added: "He simply cannot remember this incident."