A Carlisle resident who was seen to deliver a hard kick to the face — and hold a knife to the neck — of a fellow Lithuanian during street violence has been given a suspended jail term.
The city’s crown court heard today how the victim was also found with a stab wound to his leg by police who attended Lawson Street, off Newtown Road, on October 4 last year after being called by concerned members of the public.
Darius Karlonas, 33, was seen arguing with another Lithuanian man while a third lay defenceless on the ground with his face covered in blood.
Karlonas had kicked the man and held a knife to his neck as he lay prone. But there was no evidence he caused the stab wound.
When interviewed, Karlonas spoke of being attacked inside his own home with a golf club and described picking up a blade in self-defence as the victim came up from behind to join violence which then spilled into the street.
“Probably as a result of whatever the dispute was about, none of the participants has assisted the police, not least the victim,” prosecutor Brendan Burke told the court.
Three knives were found inside the address, one of which was in a kitchen sink and blood-stained.
Karlonas admitted affray and illegally having a bladed article in public in relation to what a judge concluded was “over the top self-defence”.
Hearing the defendant had no previous convictions, Recorder Ciaran Rankin suspended a 12-month prison sentence for two years.
Karlonas must also complete 150 hours’ unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement.
