A Gateshead nightmare neighbour threatened to cut a man's legs off while holding an improvised "scythe" during a heated row.
William Simpson was seen arguing with the man by fellow neighbours inside a block of flats in St Cuthbert's Court, Gateshead, on April 27, this year. The 51-year-old was seen holding a large wooden stick with a curved metal end during the row and caused damage to a lift by jamming it.
Simpson was heard dishing out violent threats and telling neighbours they could "all watch". He was eventually arrested after a police officer arrived and pointed a Taser at him.
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Simpson, of St Cuthbert's Court, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for affray and criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said at around 9pm on April 27, a female neighbour heard shouting outside Simpson's flat and looked through her front door peep-hole to see what was happening. Simpson could be seen having a row with another man, and both were "arguing and shouting at each other".
Simpson then went towards the stairwell, with the woman hearing a "smashing noise". Mr Pallister said: "She saw the defendant coming out of his flat with a large wooden stick, effectively a scythe-type instrument. He was shouting 'I'm going to cut his legs off, you can all watch'. Other neighbours were alerted to the noise and the female witness described feeling distressed at what she'd seen."
The court heard that the police were called and an officer attended the block of flats and saw that the lift had been damaged. Mr Pallister said: "The officer noticed the lift was stuck. CCTV showed someone had put a metal bar in the lift, stopping it from closing. The officer then approached the defendant's flat and there was blood on the door. The defendant appeared into the view of the officer with the scythe and the Taser was drawn."
The court heard Simpson, who had 28 previous convictions for 48 offences, was then arrested. In interview he denied the offences but admitted he had been shouting.
Tony Davis, defending, said Simpson had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and had mental health issues. He said: "Plainly, his mental health has deteriorated considerably since a bout of viral meningitis and brain injury which occurred. It's an example of poor decision making and probably some degree of provocation from an upstairs neighbour who befriended him, and probably on account of the defendant's various disabilities, has taken advantage of him. But we are not here to cast aspersions."
Mr Davis added: "He has very little recollection of the incident and is worried about that. He continues to wait for further psychological intervention and has no desire to go back to that property."
Judge Robert Spragg jailed Simpson for six months, saying some culpability had been diminished due to his mental health issues. He said Simpson was seen arguing with the neighbour as part of an "ongoing dispute" and was wielding "some sort of improvised device with a scythe" attached.
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