Grandfather with leukaemia spared jail

Peter Wakefield, 59, of Batley, confronted his daughter Adele Kaye’s former partner Richard Carroll after claiming Mr Carroll had damaged his granddaughter’s trampoline, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC handed Wakefield a suspended prison sentence after hearing he is suffering from leukaemia.

Prosecutor, Robert Galley said Miss Kaye and Mr Carroll had separated and there had been an accusation that Mr Carroll had damaged the child’s trampoline.

Mr Galley said the incident involving Wakefield happened outside His flat on Howley Walk, Soothill, Batley, at around 5.30pm on July 7, adding: “The defendant approached him saying ‘you have slashed my granddaughter’s trampoline.’ He went back into his flat and emerged with a knife, about six to seven inches long. He said words like he was going to stab him or kill him.”

Wakefield admitted possession of a bladed article and affray. Mitigating, Michael Jowett said: “He is suffering from leukaemia. He was told in February 2014 that he had two years to live. He is in poor health generally.”

Sentencing Wakefield to a 13 month prison sentence, suspended for two-years, Judge Tom Bayliss QC told him: “This was a family dispute in which you became involved in a very serious way. You threatened this man with a knife. These are extremely dangerous circumstances, which I’m sure you now realise. I’m quite satisfied that you are remorseful. There are in my judgement exceptional circumstances. You are suffering from a life-threatening disease, I suspend the sentence with that in mind.”