Two men were jailed for a street brawl that saw one man slashed in his neck. The shocking fight between John Reid and David Jowett was witnessed by horrified people. One witness recorded footage of the incident and it was shown at Preston Crown Court today. The pair were sentenced to one year in prison for making threats and wounding the other. According to the court, Jowett arrived at Reid’s house on Bartholomew Road following an earlier incident at Station pub. The court was unable to agree on details of the earlier incident and the reason for the violent and bloody brawl is still unknown.
The brawl was captured on video, and Jowett had blood running down his neck from an earlier slash. They then follow each other across the street and eventually strike at each other with their weapons, prompting Reid to drop his knife. Jowett immediately throws away his weapon and continues to attack Reid with his fists. A third man then aims a kick towards Reid before they leave the scene.
It is still not clear where the zombie knife came from. Reid brought it home, but denied it was his. He claimed that the knife was brought to him by Jowett’s group, but that it had been left behind when Jowett was attacked inside his house. Morecambe machete, Judge Richard Archer did not accept this version of events as true. Jowett had brought the machete, but it was legally theirs for their work in landscape gardening.
Anna Bond, the prosecutor, stated that Jowett had not been convicted of any previous offenses. Reid, however, has 31 offences from 13 and none for violent offences. Jowett pleaded guilty for wounding with intent and threatening to cause grievous bodily injury and threatening with a offensive weapon in public places. Reid was found guilty of the lesser offense of unlawful wounding, and the same threats.
Stephen Wood, who was defending Jowett, stated that the incident was totally out of character for Jowett. He had never before been cautioned, reprimanded or arrested. He stated that he had been well-rested in custody and pointed out glowing reviews from both those who knew him personally as those who met him at HMP Preston. Morecambe machete, Mr Wood stated that he knows he has let himself down, but also his family. He has a law-abiding family that does not condone his actions but continues to stand with him.
Jowett could have inflicted serious injury on Reid if Reid dropped his weapon. But he chose to also drop his own. He said that Jowett is genuinely sorry, unlikely to be convicted of another offense in the future, and poses no risk to the public.
Christopher Hudson, who was defending Reid, said that the incident was “terrifying” to anyone who witnessed it. He called Reid’s actions “excessive self defense” and described Reid as mentally and physically fragile. This was supported by evidence from a doctor who stated that Reid struggled more under pressure than other people.
