Drug-fuelled knife fight at Frankston’s Ambassador, dubbed the Gatwick of the south
AN ICE-ADDICT faces jail for his part in a frightening near-fatal drug-induced knife fight at the notorious Ambassador apartments.
South East
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AN ICE-ADDICT faces jail for his part in a near-fatal drug-induced knife fight at the notorious Ambassador apartments.
Adam Richards has admitted stabbing a fellow methamphetamine user at the Frankston complex, dubbed the ‘Gatwick of the south’.
In recent times there have been a string of violent attacks at the Ambassador, including one involving a chainsaw.
And just last year the Nepean Highway complex was labelled “the most dangerous address in the country” by its own owners.
Richards, 44, pleaded guilty at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to a charge of intentionally causing injury.
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The court heard the drug-fuelled fracas was over $27 worth of ice that Richards had paid for, but not received.
He had given the money to his neighbour at around 10am on April 10 this year to go and buy the drugs.
But by 2.30pm the man had failed to return with the ice, so Richards went to his apartment demanding the drugs or his money back.
The other man then threatened Richards with a knife and punched him in the face, causing a split lip and dislodged tooth.
Richards then produced his own knife and chased the victim down a hallway, repeatedly stabbing him in the back.
Richards then fell headfirst through a glass window, picked himself up and went to Frankston Hospital for treatment.
In the meantime another resident had found the badly slashed man, who was taken to hospital and spent two days at The Alfred and Royal Melbourne.
Police arrested Richards at Frankston Hospital and took him back to the station, but he was unfit for interview.
Later he told police his actions were in self-defence, as he had been punched and threatened with a knife.
In court defence lawyer Rafael Aviles said Richards had mental health issues and had been a long-term drug user.
“He felt in danger, he thought to neutralise the threat he had to do what he did,” Mr Aviles said.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said even though this crime was a “common or garden fight between two drug-affected, drug-abusing people”, Richards went too far.
“It was a cowardly attack, the complainant was fleeing, he (Richards) was chasing,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“He slices him in the back between his shoulder blades.
“It is fortunate the injuries weren’t permanent or of a more lasting nature.”
Richards, who has priors for violence and drug crimes, has already spent 56 days in custody.
He will be sentenced next Wednesday.