Cocaine addict Joshua Baldwin choked his mother and attacked her with knife whilst demanding money for drugs before being Tasered by police

Joshua Baldwin, aged 25, of St Andrews Place, Newport, was sentenced to a hospital order after Cardiff Crown Court heard he suffered from “mental health issues”.

When police came to arrest him following an “escalating level of violence” against his mother, they had to Taser him after he threatened to stab himself with a pair of scissors.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Man, 19, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following massive police operation in Newport
• Traumatic injuries sustained by Alzheimer's sufferer, 68, in city centre collision
• Child killer 'stabbed 150 times by three men after being lured to his death', jury told

Baldwin had previous convictions for violence, including an attack on his ex-partner and her friend in Newport’s La Bamba nightclub in 2016 when he was under the influence of drugs.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees, said that in this latest offending it was “fortunate that his mother’s injuries were not really serious”.

She said that Baldwin had tried to “feed his overwhelming addiction to cocaine”.

He admitted controlling or coercive behaviour, threatening criminal damage and assault by beating between August 31 and September 2, 2018.

Prosecutor Richard Ace said Baldwin had ran out of money and demanded £200 from his mother to buy cocaine which she had given to him.

The next day he said he asked her for more cash and turned violent and he “attempted to choke her and slapped her” before he received another £70.

The court heard how Baldwin then targeted his grandmother and threatened to smash the windows of her home.

Mr Ace said his mother had spent hours in a Morrisons supermarket because she was “fearful” of going home.

He told the court how Baldwin assaulted her when she did return, again wanting yet more money for cocaine.

Mr Ace said: “Hitting her with a brush, it snapped into a number of pieces. He started choking her again. She relented and got some money from a friend.”

He later went on to attack her again with a kitchen knife, jabbing at her with the blade and cutting her hand and also kicked her in the stomach.

After Baldwin was Tasered by the police, Mr Ace added, he started spitting at officers and bit through a spit hood placed over his head.

Stephen Thomas, for the defendant, said his client’s mother still wants to continue contact with him.

The court heard from Dr Neetha Byrappa, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, who said that a hospital bed was available to treat Baldwin.

Judge Rees imposed a hospital order.