Face of the knife-wielding Sheffield thug who attacked three people

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 4 how Ben Barton, 30, of Queen Mary Road, Woodthorpe, Sheffield, chased and slashed-out at a man with a knife before his friends tried to intervene and were also assaulted.

Judge Peter Kelson QC said Barton had been a car passenger when he approached the three men and asked one of them if they thought he looked like a crackhead and one of the men ran off and was chased by the defendant.

Judge Kelson said: “You chased him and you were carrying a knife and when you caught him you put that knife to his cheek.”

He added Barton slashed the knife down to the man’s chest and cut his jacket and his two friends were punched by the defendant as they tried to intervene. One also suffered a cut to his hand as he tried to protect one of the two men as the defendant slashed-out with the knife.

Barton pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in public, two counts of assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and causing damage after the incident last year.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply on the basis this had been for his friends and not for financial gain.

James Gould, defending, said that while Barton has been in custody he has become drug-free and he is a successful case of rehabilitation.

Judge Peter Kelson QC sentenced Barton to three years and four-months of custody.