A SCISSOR-WIELDING thug had to be brought down by five police officers after he launched a ‘frenzy of violence’ involving head-butts, kicks and bites.

Robert Stephens left one police officer permanently scarred after he sunk his teeth into him during the ‘savage’ attack in which he also threatened to kill members of the public and police.

One witness described the build-up to the brawl in Kennington as ‘like a horror movie’.

The 27-year-old of Abingdon Road, Oxford, had already admitted one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, four common assaults, possessing a bladed article, threatening behaviour and racially aggravated harassment.

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At his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, presiding Judge Peter Ross called the outburst of violence on the night of March 28 ‘savage’.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Robert Lindsey said that Stephens was first spotted by neighbours in the Kennington area behaving aggressively shouting ‘I will kill you’ in the direction of a house.

Oxford Mail:

Peaceful: The village centre opposite the Tandem pub at the heart of Kennington.

He was then seen to produce what was described as a bladed object - later believed to be a pair of rusty scissors - before making further threats to nearby residents who were inside their home.

One eyewitness said that Stephens came up to their home then said he would kill the people inside, and went on to describe the incident as ‘something out of a horror movie’.

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Police arrived and it was then that Stephens exploded into a frenzy, biting, kicking and head-butting officers, as well as shouting abuse including racism against one Scottish officer.

It took five officers to eventually subdue him and, despite a spit guard placed on him, he managed to bite one policeman on the arm, leaving him scarred.

Oxford Mail:

He continued his aggression at the police station but once he was subdued he later admitted all offences before magistrates.

In mitigation at yesterday's hearing, Stephens' defence barrister Gordana Turudija-Austin said that her client – who has a long history of violent offending – had been drinking that day and could remember very little about the incident.

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She added that he had become ‘institutionalised’, spending repeated periods in prison, and said that he needed help.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said “You engaged in a frenzy of violence towards an increasing number of officers who were required to attend to restrain you.

“Your violence was extreme, it involved a headbutt, two bites, kicking, and then at the police station you didn’t desist even there.”

He described Stephens as a ‘dangerous’ offender and jailed him for a total of four years to include a one-year period of extended licence after his release.