Pensioner In Wheelchair Branded 'Public Danger' By Judge After Hammer Attack On Carer

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Pensioner In Wheelchair Branded 'Public Danger' By Judge After Hammer Attack On Carer

Hammer attacker: 84-year-old David Bird

 

An 84-year old man has been branded a public danger after seriously injuring his carer in a brutal hammer attack.

 

David Bird hit Christopher Blake seven times with the weapon in the early hours assault while the 43-year-old was sleeping.

Mr Blake, who lived at the house with Bird and was his registered carer, woke up in his blood-soaked bed in a state of shock after the sudden onslaught.

He had suffered four cuts to his scalp, a laceration above each eye and a fractured cheekbone.

At Newcastle Crown Court Judge John Evans said: "It might have resulted in more serious injury than it did, if not death.

"Taking a hammer to the head of someone, who was not expecting it, is plainly an extremely dangerous, potentially lethal thing to do.

"The anxiety in his behaviour is unpredictable and that makes him dangerous.

"He constitutes a danger to the public, to anyone who finds themselves in contact with him."

Bird, who has pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, will be sentenced after he has undergone an assessment of his physical condition.

He appeared at the hearing in a wheelchair and was assisted by a health worker from the home he is now living in.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court Mr Blake had gone to sleep in his bedroom at Bird's home in Throckley, Newcastle, on October 23, 2011 after watching Match of the Day.

Mr Pallister said: "He had been in a very deep sleep.

"When he opened his eyes he noticed his hands and arms were covered in blood.

"He sat up and noticed his bedroom door was open and the defendant, in his pyjamas and dressing gown, was standing in the doorway.

"His bed covers were covered in blood, heavily stained.

"He was bleeding and a hammer way lying on the bed.

"Mr Blake realised blood was coming from his head and face.

"Because of the shock he was not in any pain at that point.

"There appeared to be at least seven blows, he was struck at least seven times with the hammer."

The court heard it was Bird who dialled 999 and told the operator: "I have injured, seriously, my carer."

Mr Blake was taken to hospital where his wounds were treated and closed after the attack.

He told police in a statement that while Bird was a "strange character", the violence came "out of the blue" and has had a huge impact on him.

Bird was released on bail until the next hearing on June 24.

He told the judge as he left court: "It's the worst thing I ever did."

Brian Hegarty defending said Bird, who has a history of mental health issues, was responding well to the rules at the home at which he now lives.

Bird, who had been suffering "paranoid beliefs", has never been in trouble before.