Knife-wielding Sheffield thug who slashed a man's arm during a child maintenance dispute is jailed

Sheffield Crown Court heard on November 14 how Samuel Fisken-Davies, aged 27, formerly of Deerlands Avenue, in Parson Cross, Sheffield, attacked his partner’s ex-partner with a knife after a dispute erupted between the three of them over child maintenance payments.

Prosecuting barrister James Baird said the complainant was involved in an argument about child maintenance payments with his ex-partner in her front garden when her new partner Fisken-Davies became involved. Mr Baird added: “The defendant then became verbally threatening and the victim refused to fight him and the defendant then took out a retractable knife from his jacket pocket and the bladed extended to three-and-a-half inches in length.”

The complainant asked whether Fisken-Davies was going to stab him, according to Mr Baird, before the defendant thrust the blade towards his victim two or three times. Mr Baird said the complainant lifted his left arm to defend himself and the blade cut the back of his left arm.

Fisken-Davies, of no fixed abode, who has four previous convictions including possessing an offensive weapon, pleaded guilty to causing unlawful wounding after the incident on April 18, 2021.

Defence barrister Richard Adams said Fisken-Davies, who had a very difficult upbringing, had formed a relationship with this older woman who a child with him, and she also had three children with her former partner. Mr Adams added that Fisken-Davies was in fear of the complainant and he intervened in the argument involving his partner and her ex-partner and he produced a knife and punches were traded.

Judge Peter Kelson KC, who sentenced Fisken-Davies to 21 months of custody, told him: “You accepted producing the knife hoping that it would deter the other person and it did not. The prosecution explain it was you who became aggressive, you who took out the retractable knife with a blade extension of three-and-a-half inches in length, and you who were asked by the complainant, ‘what are you going to do – stab me?’.”

Judge Kelson added: “There are aggravating factors here including the fact you were under the influence of drink at the time of the offence and the presence of children.”