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Lucky not to go to jail after threatening to slit man's throat
A MAN ran into his bedroom and locked the door after being confronted by a drunk who was threatening to slit his throat with a kitchen knife.
Bridlington magistrates were told that Robert Shaw, who lived in the same building in Bridlington’s Old Town as James Andrew Bell, 18, of High Street, had been helping Bell up the stairs on February 19 when he became aggressive.
Prosecuting at last Friday’s hearing, Andrew Vaughan, said Bell had gouged Shaw’s left eye and also punched him in the face.
At one point they both fell to the floor.
“Bell had then produced a kitchen knife with a three to four-inch blade and said I am going to slit your throat.
“Shaw went into his own bedroom, locked the door and phoned the police.
“While he was doing this Bell was banging on the outside of his door shouting I am going to stab him, I am going to stab Rob.” said Mr Vaughan.
Bell was arrested at the scene and when interviewed by police accepted he made the threats, saying: “I was going to stab someone because I cannot get my son back.”
Mr Vaughan said Bell had been drinking for most of the day.
John Seagrave, mitigating for Bell who had pleaded guilty to a charge of affray and appeared in court last Friday for sentencing, said at that time Bell had a drink problem.
That day he had received news from a solicitor in family court proceedings that his son was being placed for adoption.
Presiding magistrate Martin Dodgson, told Mr Seagrave they were intending to follow reccommendations in a probation report which did not include imprisonment.
He said to Bell: “You are very fortunate that you are not going inside.
“This is a very serious offence in a public place.
“Frightening someone to death, sending them scurrying into their own flat because you had a knife and had threatened to slit their throat.”
Mr Dodgson said they had agreed on a non-custodial sentence out of consideration of the fact that he had no record of anything of a similar nature.
He gave Bell a 12 month supervision order which included an alcohol activity and anger management.
He was also ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work and to pay 85 court costs
Mr Dodgson warned him: “If you ever find yourself in a similar situation again in these courts you will be facing a custodial sentence.”
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Weather for Bridlington
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
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