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Building dispute ends in stabbing Building dispute ends in stabbing
(about 5 hours later)
A man has been jailed for five years for stabbing a former friend after a long-running row over a bill for building work the victim carried out.A man has been jailed for five years for stabbing a former friend after a long-running row over a bill for building work the victim carried out.
Andrew Mills, 36, admitted wounding John Baker outside a pub in Maesteg.Andrew Mills, 36, admitted wounding John Baker outside a pub in Maesteg.
Mr Baker was taken to hospital by fire engine as no ambulance was available, Newport Crown Court heard.Mr Baker was taken to hospital by fire engine as no ambulance was available, Newport Crown Court heard.
The court was told Mills had made more than 30 complaints of harassment and obtained a restraining order against Mr Baker before the incident in February.The court was told Mills had made more than 30 complaints of harassment and obtained a restraining order against Mr Baker before the incident in February.
The pair had been neighbours and friends in Maesteg until a dispute broke out between them over a bill for building work carried out by Mr Baker, the court heard. The pair had been neighbours and friends in Maesteg until a dispute broke out between them over a bill for building work carried out by Mr Baker a number of years ago, the court heard.
The dispute was taken to the county court but it continued on a personal level with Mr Baker pursuing a campaign of harassment against Mills, the court heard.The dispute was taken to the county court but it continued on a personal level with Mr Baker pursuing a campaign of harassment against Mills, the court heard.
The judge heard how it resulted in Mills obtaining a restraining order against Mr Baker. The judge heard how it resulted in Mills obtaining a restraining order against Mr Baker in June 2006.
However, in February, both men were drinking in the King Alfred pub in Maesteg when Mills, who had been drinking heavily, called the police to ask them to throw Mr Baker out of the pub, the court was told.However, in February, both men were drinking in the King Alfred pub in Maesteg when Mills, who had been drinking heavily, called the police to ask them to throw Mr Baker out of the pub, the court was told.
But officers who went to the pub decided Mr Baker was not breaching the order and Mills left the pub shortly after.But officers who went to the pub decided Mr Baker was not breaching the order and Mills left the pub shortly after.
The court heard he returned to the pub armed with a knife and followed Mr Baker into the toilets where he stabbed him twice, once in the thigh and once in the stomach. We all feel completely let down by certain departments of the justice system Julie Mills, defendant's wife
Leighton Hughes, prosecuting, said Mills returned to the pub armed with a kitchen knife and followed Mr Baker into the toilets where he stabbed him twice, once in the thigh and once in the stomach.
The court heard that on the way out, Mills told a doorman "I've stabbed him. I hope he died. You don't know what he's put me through."The court heard that on the way out, Mills told a doorman "I've stabbed him. I hope he died. You don't know what he's put me through."
Rights and wrongs Mr Hughes said it was professional opinion that without surgery Mr Baker "probably would have died."
He probably would have died without a two-and-a-half hour emergency operation, the court was told.
Mr Baker lost nearly a litre of blood and was taken to hospital in a fire engine because the area's three ambulances were too busy to attend.Mr Baker lost nearly a litre of blood and was taken to hospital in a fire engine because the area's three ambulances were too busy to attend.
'Something dreadful'
Mills was initially charged with attempted murder but that charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.Mills was initially charged with attempted murder but that charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.
His barrister, Michael Mather-Lees, said nothing could excuse the stabbing, but said Mills was sinned against as well as sinning.His barrister, Michael Mather-Lees, said nothing could excuse the stabbing, but said Mills was sinned against as well as sinning.
He had made more than 30 complaints of harassment to police - he had even moved home - but he was simply "driven to distraction", Mr Mather-Lees told the court.He had made more than 30 complaints of harassment to police - he had even moved home - but he was simply "driven to distraction", Mr Mather-Lees told the court.
He added: "This is a good man who has done something dreadful."
Judge Roderick Denyer told Mills he had been an excellent member of the community up to the time he stabbed Mr Baker.Judge Roderick Denyer told Mills he had been an excellent member of the community up to the time he stabbed Mr Baker.
He said he took into account the background with Mr Baker but would not go into the rights and wrongs of it.He said he took into account the background with Mr Baker but would not go into the rights and wrongs of it.
"I have no doubt that Mr Baker would perceive things somewhat differently," he said."I have no doubt that Mr Baker would perceive things somewhat differently," he said.
After the sentence, Mills' wife Julie said she felt her family had been let down by "certain departments of the justice system" as they were not protected adequately by harassment laws.
Outside the court, she said: "Given the circumstances of this case, this was the best possible outcome for Andrew and the whole family.
"However, to ensure that these circumstances never arise again, and for the family's future protection, the question 'Does the Protection from Harassment Act work?' has to be asked.
"It clearly did not work for us; if it had, we would not be here today."