Man jailed for box cutter attack with brother

Stewart Bestford was jailed for almost seven years

A man who used a box cutter to slash the wrist of a victim who had already been attacked by his brother has been jailed.

Stewart Bestford left a man with severed tendons in his wrists and other cuts and bruises, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He launched the attack after his brother Steven Bestford punched the man amid claims the victim had stolen tools, Judge Robert Spragg said.

Stewart Bestford, who admitted wounding with intent and two domestic abuse attacks on his then partner, was jailed for six years and 10 months, and Steven Bestford, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, for nine months suspended for a year.

The court heard Steven Bestford, 40 and of Haven Court in Blyth, had stored some of his belongings in a storage unit owned by the victim.

When the victim moved units he took all the contents, including some belonging to Bestford, the court heard.

He contacted the man to ask for his tools but the victim slept in and missed the handover appointment.

'Terrifying experience'

A second meeting was arranged at which Steven Bestford accused the man of "nicking his tools" and punched him.

Stewart Bestford, 43 and of Epsom Drive in Ashington, joined in and repeatedly slashed the man with a box cutter, while a dog belonging to one of the brothers also got involved and bit the victim, Judge Spragg said.

The court heard the man suffered six damaged tendons in his left wrist from which he would only ever partially recover and extreme psychological harm.

Judge Spragg said it was "clearly an absolutely terrifying experience" for the victim and Stewart Bestford's infliction of the "really unpleasant injuries" was "gratuitous and unnecessary".

He also admitted twice punching his then partner, once in a caravan in Cresswell and again one Christmas Day.

On the second occasion, the woman had been bitten by his dog before being forced into his car, which she then fled from as it slowed down in Seaton Delaval.

'Model prisoner'

Judge Spragg said Stewart Bestford had been in HMP Durham since January 2022, where he had emerged as a "model prisoner".

He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the death of a partner, Judge Spragg said, which had led to him stabbing himself and for which he was "self-medicating" with alcohol and drugs.

The judge said Stewart Bestford had got clean in jail and was now helping other prisoners combat their addiction issues.

Judge Spragg said the injuries to the slashing victim were caused by Stewart Bestford and his brother had not realised a knife was going to be used.

As well as his suspended prison sentence, Steven Bestford was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work.

Restraining orders banning him from contacting their victim and Stewart Bestford from speaking to his ex-partner were also made to last 10 years.