Ambassador stabber Adam Richards gets 16 months jail for ice-fuelled Frankston attack
AMBASSADOR attacker Adam Richards was this morning jailed for 16 months for stabbing a fellow drug user in the back.
South East
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AMBASSADOR attacker Adam Richards was this morning jailed for 16 months for stabbing a fellow drug user in the back.
Richards must serve a minimum of eight months behind bars for the frightening near-fatal assault on his neighbour at the notorious Frankston apartments.
The 44-year-old had earlier this month pleaded guilty to intentionally cause injury over the April incident.
The court had heard the ice-fuelled fracas was over just $27 worth of drugs that Richards had paid for but not received.
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He had given the money to his neighbour at around 10am on April 10 this year, but by 2.30pm the man had failed to return with the ice.
Richards went to his apartment to confront him, but instead of getting his drugs or cash back, he was met with a punch in the face.
In a massive over-reaction, Richards then produced a pocket knife, chased the man down a hallway and repeatedly stabbed him in the back.
His defence lawyer said he had mental health issues, had been a long-term drug user and felt in danger.
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Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said it pure chance Richards didn’t kill the man.
He said he “went beyond self-preservation”, was angry, armed and prepared to use his weapon.
“I have seen photos of the injuries; (there was) one deep wound in-between the shoulder blades above the vertebrae,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“It is quite fortunate for you and your victim he was not more seriously injured, or for that matter killed.
“It is simply a matter of good luck.”
He told Richards “when you literally stab someone in the back, you go to jail” before sentencing him to 16 months behind bars.
He must serve a minimum of eight months, minus the 64 days he has already spent in custody.
The Ambassador complex has been dubbed the ‘Gatwick of the south’ after a string of recent violent attacks, including one involving a chainsaw.
Even the owners of the Nepean Highway apartments call it “the most dangerous address in the country”.