Caleb Watson Fleming in Maroochydore court for stabbing man at Yandina

A Sunshine Coast man has narrowly escaped jail time after stabbing his brother’s friend for being too rowdy while he was trying to sleep.

A Yandina man has narrowly escaped jail after being woken up by his brother’s mechanic friend and stabbing him for being too loud.

Caleb Watson Fleming, 28, was given two years prison to be released immediately on parole in Maroochydore District Court on May 23, 2022.

Crown prosecutor Ellie Bowlam said Fleming was sleeping at his Yandina house where his family also live on May 22, 2021.

A 29-year-old mechanic had been invited over to the house by Fleming’s brother who was drinking and smoking with the man.

Ms Bowlam said Fleming was woken by the victim talking loudly in an intoxicated state.

Fleming confronted the pair and yelled at the 29-year-old victim saying, “What the f--k are you doing in this house?”

Caleb Watson Fleming pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding in Maroochydore District Court.

A fight broke out during which punches were traded between Fleming and the victim before he walked to his bedroom to get a small folding knife.

The victim then grabbed him from behind before Fleming used the knife to cut the victim’s hand.

Fleming then stabbed the victim twice in the hip and buttock areas.

He also swung the knife towards the victim’s face but it only grazed the skin.

The victim suffered two stab wounds, one of the injuries was 3cm deep and the other was 5cm deep.

A truck driver at a nearby IGA helped the victim and called an ambulance for him.

When police interviewed Fleming about the incident he told them, “I’m not getting beaten up in my own home, f--k that – I’d rather stab someone honestly.”

“I wanted to scar his face so that way he can remember it and every day he would have to look at it.”

Caleb Watson Fleming pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding in Maroochydore District Court.

Defence barrister Mark Dixon said his client was trying to impress his father who was present for the fight in an “act of bravado”.

“He was exposed to drug use, violence and neglect at a very young age,” Mr Dixon said.

“He commenced cannabis and tobacco use at the age of 10 and alcohol use at the age of 12.”

Judge Michael Byrne said the mechanic victim had suffered ongoing impacts from the stabbing that was an “excessive use of force in self defence”.

A conviction was recorded against conviction against Fleming after he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful wounding.

Originally published as Caleb Watson Fleming in Maroochydore court for stabbing man at Yandina