A DRUG addict who lunged at a complete stranger with a bread knife after turning up at his Bradford home demanding his phone back has been jailed for three years. 

Matthew Zdanowicz had a criminal record for 64 offences, including assault and possession of a knife, when he arrived at the family home on December 14 last year, Bradford Crown Court heard. 

Zdanowicz, 43, of Cloudsdale Avenue, Little Horton, Bradford, banged on the door of the house, in West Bowling, and told the man he had left his phone at the address after smoking drugs there the previous night. 

Prosecutor Felicity Hemlin said today that he was told to leave but returned saying he wanted to fight. 

He pulled a bread knife in the garden and lunged at the man with it. 

His partner heard shouting and then saw someone trying to push their way into the property after the man had barred the door. 

Zdanowicz then left leaving behind the knife that had his DNA on it. 

He pleaded guilty ahead of his trial to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article. 

He had 26 convictions for 64 offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, matters of dishonesty, affray, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of a knife, and battery. 

He was in breach of a community order for shop theft. 

Christopher Styles said in mitigation that no injury was caused. Zdanowicz had drawn the knife on impulse in the short-lived incident. 

Mr Styles said his client had lived with ‘baleful conditions.’ He had struggled with addiction to heroin, crack and diazepam and was often homeless. 

He was genuinely remorseful and seeking help with his mental health issues while in HMP Leeds on remand for the past seven months. He had engaged with psychiatrists, taken his medication and was no longer hearing voices. 

He had completed courses for ‘a peaceful existence’ and to address his drug issues. 

Zdanowicz had managed to stay out of trouble for 15 years up to 2020, proving that he could be a law-abiding member of society. 

Judge Sophie McKone said he went to the home of someone he didn’t know, believing in his intoxicated state that it was the right address.  

He was asked to leave but then pulled out a large kitchen knife and lunged at the man. 

She said it was only by good luck that he wasn’t seriously injured or even killed. 

Zdanowicz was under the influence of drugs and told his probation officer he habitually carried a knife to protect himself. 

But he was making good progress while on remand and had earned enhanced status as a prisoner.