Lenny Norris, from Bilton, east Hull, launched a violent attack where he punched and stabbed a man with a knife after believing that he had stolen a cannabis joint from him
A heroin addict viciously stabbed a man with a knife after suspecting that he had stolen a cannabis joint from him while he was asleep.
Lenny Norris took his revenge in his mind for the cannabis going missing by suddenly confronting the sleeping man in his bed, punching him and then repeatedly stabbing him, Hull Crown Court heard.
The 36-year-old from Bilton, east Hull, who was recently in custody on remand, admitted offences of wounding with intent on June 27 and assault on June 26. When he awoke, he said the joint had gone and he accused the occupier of the flat of stealing it. He punched the man in the face near his eye.
The next day, the man was asleep in bed when Norris went into the bedroom. He was “demanding to know where his weed was” and told the man that he had better find it. He punched the man in the face and the stomach several times.
The victim felt pain in his right arm and chest. “Blood was running down his leg,” said Miss Smart. “He was aware that he had been stabbed. He felt a cut to the back of his neck.” Norris threw a kitchen knife, four or five inches long, at him before walking away, reported HullLive.
The man went to Hull Royal Infirmary where a small 5mm puncture wound to his chest was found as well as wounds on his hip and wrist. During police interview, Norris made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 68 previous offences between 2003 and 2021, mainly theft-related, but including robbery in 2014, three offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and two of assault.
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Norris lost his temper over cannabis going missing. He regretted the incident and was sorry that he did not get a chance to express that. Norris quickly spoke up and told the court: “At the end of the day, he should not have robbed me. I am sorry for doing it.”
Mr Robinson said that he could not, in view of this, claim that there was any remorse from Norris. He had suffered a drug problem for many years and he had been prescribed methadone but he relapsed into heroin misuse.
“He has taken steps to address his drug misuse,” said Mr Robinson. “Sadly, he is one of the more experienced users of drugs in custody. He hopes finally to address his drug misuse once and for all. This is by far the most serious offence that the defendant has committed.”
Norris was jailed for four-and-a-half years after being branded a dangerous offender. He will be on extended licence of four years after his release from prison. He was given a 10-year restraining order.
