Muswellbrook: David Creighton jailed for stabbing former partner and her sister in scissor attack during violent confrontation

A man has been sentenced for a “terrifying” attack which saw him stab his former partner and her sister with scissors at a home in the Upper Hunter early last year.

A Macksville man has been jailed for stabbing his former partner and her sister during a violent confrontation at an Upper Hunter home early last year, but with time served could be released on parole in a month.

In giving evidence in Newcastle District Court on Tuesday, David Creighton - now 28 - said he found the incident as a “bit of a wakeup call” and said his actions scared him.

Police were called to a Pacific Way home at Muswellbrook on January 12 last year, where they found Creighton in the front yard, armed with a pair of scissors and holding a baby.

David Creighton pleaded guilty to reckless wounding after he stabbed his former partner and her sister with scissors at a Muswellbrook home. Credit: Facebook

Police facts read in court detailed how the 28-year-old made contact with his former partner’s left eye and the left forearm of her sister during the attack.

There was a brief scuffle with another man before he went into the kitchen and police were called.

Police facts also stated officers repeatedly ordered Creighton to hand over the infant but he refused, before he sat the baby on the ground and he was subdued by police with capsicum spray and batons.

The man’s former partner, a 30-year-old Macksville woman, was flown to John Hunter Hospital where she was treated for her eye injury.

Her sister, a 28-year-old Muswellbrook woman was also hospitalised for stab wounds to her upper arm.

Creighton pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless wounding, while two charges of wound a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and a charge of use an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention were withdrawn.

On Wednesday, Judge Sharron Norton sentenced Creighton to three years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of one year, seven months and 15 days.

With time already spent in custody, he’ll be eligible for release on August 26, next month.

Two apprehended violence orders (AVOs) against his former partner and her sister were consented to for a period of two years each.

Judge Norton said she accepted his evidence that the incident “scared him” and that he would do his best to stay off the drugs and alcohol.

She noted he was around violence, drug and alcohol abuse at a young age and this was normalised for Creighton and that his mental illness diagnosis of epilepsy and recent Covid confirmation would be a hardship for him.

Creighton told the court his actions were a “bit of a wakeup call” . Credit: Facebook

Judge Norton said these were serious offences but each was “brief and opportunistic”.

“It was committed in a very short period of time and similar in nature, part of the same event on two separate victims,” she said.

In court on Tuesday Creighton gave evidence via video link that he was using drugs - namely marijuana and ice - at the time of the offences.

“It was a bit of a wakeup call,” he told the court.

“It’s hard to think about, I am glad it wasn’t any worse than it was.

“It scared me and still scares me now when I think about it.”

When asked if he understood how serious the offences were he replied, “yes. I don’t want to ever let myself get to that stage where I’m like that”.

It was heard in court that a psychologist report recounted Creighton saying, “i feel like a s**t c**t” about the attack.

Creighton’s ALS (Aboriginal legal service) solicitor Elana Scoufis told the court about her client’s troublesome upbringing where he was subjected to alcohol, drugs and violence, which prompted him to start drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at an early age.

The court also heard about his criminal record where he was once jailed for violence against his former partner and was also on an intensive corrections order (ICO) for other offences committed.

Creighton will be sentenced for two charges of reckless wounding Credit: Facebook

But the court heard when released from jail he wanted to move back in with his mother, grandmother and brother, where drinking alcohol is no longer allowed in the house and wanted to be more responsible for his two kids.

“I want the best for them. Just get off the drugs and start being a dad,” he said.

He also agreed to engaging counselling for his drug use and mental health issues once released.

The court heard Creighton had been diagnosed with epilepsy and was willing to take regular medication and hopefully find a job to keep his mind “focused”.

The Crown told the court it accepted his drug addictions and a serious medical condition of epilepsy but didn’t agree the sentence should be reduced on the basis of his health conditions.

“He has a long history of offending and the court should take caution,” the Crown said.

But his solicitor pointed out Creighton has changed since his last set of offending and was aware of his limitations.