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Chronicle Live
National
Sara Nichol

Knife-wielding Westerhope drunk threatened to kill boy's parents and neighbour's dog

A knife-wielding drunk is facing jail after he threatened to kill a schoolboy's parents and a neighbour's dog.

Michael Karmazyn made the chilling threats during two separate incidents on the same day, with both leaving his victims "terrified". A court heard that the 38-year-old first targeted his neighbours by standing at their fence and repeatedly shouting that he was going to kill their pet dog, who was standing in their garden.

Although he didn't follow through with his claims and eventually left the scene, Karmazyn went on to approach a 13-year-old boy, who he didn't know, prosecutors said. The terrified youngster watched as Karmazyn embedded a knife into a fence as he threatened to kill his parents.

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The police were called and Karmazyn was arrested after officers attended his address on Dereham Court, in Westerhope. Karmazyn, who was on a suspended sentence for drink driving at the time, could now be locked up after he pleaded guilty to affray and possession of a bladed article at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

Paul Doney, prosecuting, said Karmazyn's neighbour was inside his home on September 27, 2021 when he heard his dog barking from the rear garden and saw a man by the fence. Mr Doney continued: "The man shouted "I'm going to kill the dog". The male was shouting over the fence towards him.

"He shouted "you, get your dog". The complainant was standing in his garden with the dog. The defendant shouted aggressively "I'm going to kill your dog". The complainant couldn't believe what he was hearing the male shout. His son came out into the garden and the defendant shouted again "I'm going to kill yous, I'm going to kill yous"."

The court heard that Karmazyn eventually left but was later spotted by a 13-year-old boy standing near a fence to a car park. He shouted in the direction of the teenager "Have you been to war? Have you been shot at?", Mr Doney said.

The prosecutor added: "The defendant stabbed a knife into the fence while saying "I'm going to kill your mum and dad. Because of his behaviour, the police were called."

The court was told that officers attended Karmazyn's address, arrested him and seized a knife. He was later picked out of an ID parade by three witnesses. In a statement, Karmazyn's neighbour said: "I'm fearful for my children now as this male knows where we live. I do not feel safe to let my children out alone in case the male returns."

Liz Dunbar, defending, said Karmazyn suffered from significant mental health issues and was drunk at the time. She added: "There's no background in relation to the neighbours and there has been nothing since. He has no idea why he acted in the way he did. He doesn't have a problem with animals - he can give no explanation."

Deputy District Judge Helen Chapman deemed the case was too serious for her to finalise and committed Karmazyn to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence. He was released on conditional bail to next appear there on February 8.

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