A MAN from Llandudno Junction who stabbed a person with a fork and assaulted him in an attempt to take heroin from him has been jailed.

Lee Ure, 40, of Glyn Y Marl Road, was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (June 18).

He had previously admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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Prosecuting, Thomas McLoughlin told the court that, on April 2, 2023, David Griffiths was at his home on Sea View Road, Colwyn Bay, where he was “drinking and socialising” with a friend.

Later that day, Ure and another male, Stuart Moran, walked past his home, when Mr Moran shouted up to Mr Griffiths to ask him to swap drugs for alcohol.

Mr Griffiths agreed, and Ure and Mr Maron entered his flat, where alcohol and heroin was consumed.

But in Mr Griffiths’ living room, things became “heated” when he told them that he was keeping a small bag of heroin for himself.

Ure followed him into his kitchen, telling him to give the bag to him, but after Mr Griffiths refused, Ure picked up a fork and repeatedly stabbed him with it.

He then placed Mr Griffiths in a headlock before beginning to choke him; Mr Griffiths said he believed he briefly lost consciousness as a result of this.

When Mr Griffiths tried to stand up, Ure moved himself on top of him, punching him repeatedly to the head and face, while Mr Moran also kicked him.

Mr Griffiths, who recalled “blood flowing from his face”, escaped from his flat, but the two men following him and violence continued outside his home, in the view of members of the public.

After Ure and Mr Maron left the scene, Mr Griffiths contacted police, who located them both nearby and found the defendant in possession of Mr Griffith’s mobile phone.

This incident also took place while Ure was on licenced release from a previous custodial sentence.

Defending Ure, who had 23 previous convictions for 43 offences, Ryan Rothwell said that his client suffers from significant mental health issues and alcoholism.

But, he said, Ure has “begged the court” for help.

“Clearly, alcohol is the crux of this defendant’s issues,” Mr Rothwell said.

“Is there anything else he can do to show that he’s willing (to engage with help offered to him)? My submission is that there isn’t.”

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry labelled Ure a “chronic alcoholic”, and told him he was responsible for a “sustained” attack on Mr Griffiths.

Judge Parry added: “Dreadfully under the influence of alcohol, you were out of control of your senses.

“Mercifully, the injuries were not too serious… (but) I simply cannot find that there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Ure will serve half of his 12-month sentence in jail before being release on licence, with Judge Parry adding: “Hopefully you’ll dry out during those six months.”