A MAN stabbed to death at his Birmingham home was previously attacked by a drug addict during a row over a £20 debt.
Jonathan Crow, who died after being assalted at his home on Maple, Road, Rubery, at 6pm last Friday, was previously wounded by Stuart Dobson.
As Mr Crow’s family paid tribute to their relative yesterday, Dobson was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Hereford Crown Court after his conviction over the earlier incident.
Dobson, 39, of Denshaw Road, Kings Heath, had previously been found guilty of wounding Mr Crow, as well as causing grievous bodily harm with intent to James Hanna, and dangerous driving.
The court heard how Dobson drove a Ford Escort onto the pavement in Cobnall Road, Catshill, and hit Mr Hanna who suffered a broken ankle.
Mr Hanna had previously rowed with Dobson over a £20 debt at his home.
The court heard Dobson then went to Mr Crow’s home where he attacked him with a hammer for giving Mr Hanna his address.
But Dobson was found not guilty of possessing an offensive weapon.
He was also found not guilty of a charge of wounding Mr Crow with intent, a section 18 offence, and was instead convicted of wounding, a section 20 offence.
Dobson, who has previous convictions for battery and public disorder, was said to have been a responsible man of good character until five years ago. Sentencing Dobson, Judge Michael Cullum said he had lashed out “over arguments for a few pounds”.
He said he had considered how Dobson had made progress under a drug treatment programme.
And he continued: “It is drug addiction that has brought you to the position where you are, committing serious offences, over arguments for a few pounds.
“There has to be a sentence of imprisonment for the assault as found by the jury of Mr Crow.
“Because I can’t be satisfied as to the basis for that verdict by the jury in light of a not guilty verdict of possessing a hammer and the not guilty verdict for Section 18, the principal offence, there will be a lesser concurrent sentence for that offence of Section 20.”
