Murderer returned to jail after wounding

Sentencing Peter Middleton at Leeds Crown Court yesterday to 34 months behind bars for unlawful wounding, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC told him that was purely technical since the length he serves would not be determined by that offence.

He told Middleton, 40, since he had been recalled to jail for his earlier crime his release date would depend on the Parole Board assessing him once again.

“When you were 20 years old you knocked a young man down, you kicked him in the head and he died as a result of his injuries. You were convicted of murder in 1992, sentenced to life imprisonment and released on parole in 2002.

“It appears you did quite well for some time, you had a steady job and seemed to maintain relationships but unfortunately on October 31 last year, some issues with anger management since your release finally erupted when you argued with your then partner and used violence involving throwing a knife at her and stabbing her in the arm with a screwdriver.”

Middleton, of Alderton Heights, Moortown, Leeds admitted unlawfully wounding the woman with whom he had been in a relationship for around seven months.

Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, said there had been some “domestic discord” between them in the past but it had not involved violence. That day, however, a neighbour heard her screaming for help and saw Middleton trying to push her back into the house as she tried to get away from him.

She had blood on her face and arms and her two children were at the door crying and distressed. The neighbour shouted at Middleton and he let her go. She had cuts and bruises and a deep laceration to one bicep as well as bite mark to her hand.

Nick Dry, for Middleton. a former soldier, said for five years following his release he held down a job as a chef but had become depressed after losing that work.