Attacker jailed after Telford knife threat to woman

A man who put a knife to a woman's throat and punched her several times in Telford has been jailed for a total of 12 months.

Simon Mills believed Coleen Bedford was interfering in his relationship with his girlfriend, who was also her best friend, a court heard.

Mills, of Corbett Close, Dawley, yesterday admitted assaulting Miss Bedford on August 21 last year on the day his trial was due to start at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

He also admitted having a black plastic handled knife in a public place and damaging a door at a home in Charlecote Park, Newdale, Telford, on the same date.

Mr Andrew Barkley, prosecuting, said Miss Bedford had found the defendant in her home with part of the front door lock in his hand after it was forced open.

She tried to get out of the home, forcing her way past Mills.

Mr Barkley said as she did this Mills hit her, knocking her to the floor.

Miss Bedford fled the house with Mills pursuing her and swinging a number of punches at her.

Mr Barkley said Mills got out the knife and put it to Miss Bedford's throat as she was trapped against a fence.

Mills then ran off, telling his victim that if she told the police about the incident he would 'kill her'.

A neighbour saw Mills hit Miss Bedford more than six times.

Mills, who apologised in court to his victim, was arrested three days later and denied being responsible.

Miss Sarah Cooper, for Mills, said Miss Bedford had taken issue with her then friend's relationship with her client.

Mills, who has since been diagnosed as being bi-polar, accepted he had assaulted Miss Bedford and having a knife in his bag, which he had not taken with him intending to use.