Wirral man who threatened woman with hammer narrowly escapes going to jail (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral man who threatened woman with hammer narrowly escapes going to jail

9:11am Thursday 27th September 2012 in News By Lynda Roughley

A WIRRAL man who threatened a young woman with a hammer on her own doorstep has narrowly escaped going to jail.

Martin Shields, 25, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment but a judge suspended it for two years.

"You took a hammer round [her] home, albeit you did not intend to use it but when you got there you raised it to her shouting you should smash her head in. She must have been terrified, " said Recorder John Bromley-Davenport, QC.

He said that fortunately he did not use it and as well as pleading guilty has been dealing with his alcohol problem.

He pointed out that he has a bad record of getting drunk and putting people in fear and warned him that if goes back to drinking too much he was at risk of ending up in jail.

Shields, of New Ferry Road, Birkenhead, had pleaded guilty to two offences of assault by beating.

Kate Morley, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that on March 23 this year Shields was at home drinking with the victim and her partner.

Other people arrived including his ex-girlfriend and he became aggressive and lunged at a man whom he believed had been "eyeing up" his former partner.

A fight broke out. Everyone left, but shortly afterwards he returned with the hammer making threats.

When the victim tried to grab it from him, she suffered minor injuries in the struggle, said Miss Morley.

Neil Gunn, defending, said Shields has undergone a detoxification programme having had alcohol problems from a young age. He said that the parties had been friends and appeared to be so again.