A 23-year-old man was given a suspended sentence after violently attacking his sister’s boyfriend with a knife, a court heard. Devante Hussey Brown, from Castle Vale, repeatedly punched David Wright and inflicted wounds to the back of his head during the unprovoked attack, which took place in the early hours of April 9th.
After the assault, Brown unexpectedly embraced the victim before leaving the scene. The court was told that Brown has a history of mental health problems and had not been taking his prescribed medication at the time of the incident.
At Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, 16 September, Brown, who had been held at HMP Hewell, received a 21-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Relatives present in the public gallery showed visible relief, with some moved to tears.
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Recorder Michelle Heeley KC explained that probation service had not identified suitable community-based interventions. She noted that imprisonment could lead to Brown losing his home and necessary support. The judge suspended the sentence without additional requirements, acknowledging the offender was experiencing a crisis and emphasised the importance of receiving help from family and community.
The court heard that on the evening of 8 April, Brown had dinner and spent time at his sister’s home. Mr Wright went to bed early but awoke at around 3:45 am. Prosecutor Sam Leach described how Wright encountered Brown unexpectedly in the kitchen, expressed surprise that Brown was still there, and was immediately assaulted without warning.
Brown struck Mr Wright several times, threatened to stab his own sister, and then punched Mr Wright in the head multiple times while wielding a cutlery knife, causing three puncture wounds. Following the attack, Brown hugged the injured man before walking away. Brown later surrendered to police voluntarily.
Defence barrister Haroon Khattak emphasised Brown’s lack of animosity towards his sister or her partner and highlighted his mental health issues as a significant factor. The court was told Brown did not recall the offence and was remorseful, recognising the incident was out of character.
The case drew attention to the complex interplay between mental health challenges and criminal behaviour, prompting the court to balance justice with the need for appropriate care and support.