A man arrested 18 months ago following a knife altercation in White Rock that ended with another man needing stitches has received a stay of proceedings on two of three criminal charges.
Regarding the third charge, of uttering threats, however, Patrick Blake was sentenced last Wednesday in Surrey Provincial Court to one year of probation.
Blake was arrested in February 2013. According to police at the time, a 40-year-old man suffered deep cuts to his hands, several cuts to his fingers and a gash to the right side of his jaw when a 47-year-old visitor allegedly lashed out when he was asked to leave the 15400-block of Marine Drive. Both men had been drinking, police said.
In addition to uttering threats, Blake was charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. A stay of proceedings on the more serious charges essentially halts prosecution – without a finding of guilt or innocence – for up to a year. If no further action is taken within that time, the related proceedings are considered to have never happened.
Last week's proceedings were initially scheduled as a two-day trial. In addition to the one-year probation, Blake was ordered to pay a victim-fine surcharge of $100 in connection with a charge of breaching conditions.