THREE family members have been jailed after perverting the course of justice following a stabbing in 2018.

Andrew, 37, and Joanne Hatchard, 60, sought to pay Hayley Hatchard, 33, and Stuart Dominey £1,000 each to retract their statements after Andrew Hatchard stabbed Mr Dominey following an altercation in October 2018.

Andrew Hatchard, of Bowden Road, Poole, was also sentenced for inflicting wounds with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Bournemouth Crown Court on November 13.

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Prosecuting, Nicholas Hall told the court that on Saturday, October 7, 2018, Hayley Hatchard, of Douglas Gardens, Poole, and Mr Dominey were living together with Andrew Hatchard, and they had been drinking together from 10.30am.

“As time wore on Stuart and Hayley started to have an argument about an event that had occurred some two weeks previously, and which had involved Stuart and Andrew,” Mr Hall said. “Andrew then came out of the bedroom and was armed with a kitchen knife.”

The court heard how Andrew Hatchard shouted at Mr Dominey, saying “you think you are hard don’t you” and “I will ******* kill you”.

The defendant then lunged at Mr Dominey and stabbed him three times.

Mr Hall continued: “It is alleged that Andrew, his sister Hayley and their mother Joanne, conspired together to, in effect, wreck the ongoing criminal proceedings against Andrew. mIt came to light on October 31, 2018, when both Stuart and Hayley attended the police station and made retraction statements in relation to the allegations that Andrew had assaulted Stuart.

“During this time, Joanne was in contact with both of them. An agreement was made that Hayley, and indeed Stuart, would each receive £1,000 if they were to retract their statements. And that is exactly what happened on October 31.”

The court then heard how neither Hayley Hatchard nor Mr Dominey turned up to court on April 8, 2019, for the first day of the Andrew Hatchard’s trial. An alternative trial date of October 29, 2019 was fixed.

“Hayley however did not turn up. It transpired that she had deliberately absented herself and was staying at a holiday park near Wareham,” Mr Hall added.

All three were then arrested for perverting the course of justice and pleaded guilty. Mitigating for Andrew Hatchard, Nick Robinson said the defendant was concerned for his sister, claiming Mr Dominey had a history of violence.

Andrew Hatchard also urged the court to be “merciful” with his mother and sister, saying the plan was his.

Mitigating for Hayley Hatchard, Alejandra Tascon said she had turned her life around since the incident, was no longer in a relationship with Mr Dominey.

Mitigating for Joanne Hatchard, Kevin Hill told the court she was caught up in trying to help her family.

Andrew Hatchard was sentenced by Judge Brian Forster QC to consecutive prison terms for the two offences, lasting a total of four years and three months.

Judge Forster said: “The offence of unlawful wounding is serious, the offence of perverting the course of justice is very serious.”

Sentencing Hayley and Joanne Hatchard to 12 months behind bars, Judge Forster said: “It is impossible to avoid an immediate prison sentence, you must both go to prison.”