Original article no longer available
The Hour
Posted on 01/29/2009
By STEVE KOBAK, Hour Staff Writer
NORWALK – A Westport man who broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and threatened her with a knife pleaded guilty to reduced charges in Norwalk Superior Court on Wednesday.
Philip Speirs, 23, faces up to 10 years in prison for first-degree burglary and is scheduled to be sentenced March 26. He was originally charged with home invasion, a class A felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in jail and a fine up to $20,000.
Speirs held a knife to his throat after police pulled him over July 17 in Westport.
He had allegedly broken into his girlfriend’s home and pointed a knife at her, then fled in his car.
Court records show that Speirs was being treated for bipolar disorder since March.
After his arrest, he admitted to drinking vodka and taking medication for depression.
Speirs was admitted to an inpatient treatment program in a hospital in Brewster, N.Y., in August and he completed treatment in October, according to court records.