JON WELCH A football fan enraged by his team's defeat went on the rampage with two Samurai swords, attacking his partner and her son, terrifying neighbours and threatening to kill police, a court was told today.

JON WELCH

A football fan enraged by his team's defeat went on the rampage with two Samurai swords, attacking his partner and her son, terrifying neighbours and threatening to kill police, a court was told today.

Mark Baker, 40, of Ling Way, Coltishall, damaged two cars and rammed a police car, telling armed officers: “Go on and shoot me!”

Norwich Crown Court heard Baker, a recovering alcoholic, had been drinking at his home in the cul-de-sac on April 15 while watching his team Blackburn Rovers lose 2-1 to Chelsea on television.

When Baker's then partner Helen Rounce switched over to a children's channel he became angry, said Stephen Spence, prosecuting.

“He started a campaign of violence and aggression and terror. When Mrs Rounce went to change the TV channel this antagonised Baker. She told him to leave and come back when he was sober, picked up his wallet and keys and then said he was not going anywhere.”

For the next hour, terror reigned, the court heard. Baker hit Mrs Rounce in the face and she banged her head on the sofa. She fled with her three-year-old daughter, who she passed over the fence to a neighbour.

Mrs Rounce was dialling 999 when Baker pushed her onto the floor. She suffered lacerations to her scalp and bruising.

Baker also attacked her seven-year-old son.

Baker armed himself with two Samurai swords and damaged two cars. When police arrived they told a man and two children approaching the area to run for their lives.

An armed response vehicle arrived but Baker rammed it in his Jeep, injuring PCs Stephen Wilkinson and Paul Cook. Baker threatened to kill officers, and was eventually arrested by police who used batons and a stun gun to restrain him.

Baker admitted assaulting Mrs Rounce and her son, criminal damage, affray, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.

The court heard he had numerous previous convictions for similar offences, plus shoplifting, violence, possessing a firearm and possessing drugs.

Michael Clare, defending, said Baker had been abstaining from drink and thought he had conquered his problem. He said Baker could not remember anything after drinking his fourth, and that his actions were not deliberate.

Jailing him for 30 months and banning him for driving for 18 months, Recorder Guy Ayers told Baker: “This is the most appalling piece of behaviour and it caused significant fear, if not terror, to the neighbours who were mostly women and children.

“You brandished two Samurai swords at members of the public causing great fear. Police arrived and advised the public to stay away. You then used a large number of threats on the police and used foul language. It is quite difficult to imagine a worse case of affray.”