A man armed with a cheese knife threatened to chop someone'e head off. Mark Elliott made the threat after being told not to harass people for money, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Elliott, 29, of Logos House in Wade Street, Bristol, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade on June 11 last year. He also admitted two public order offences on the same day.
Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for six months. He told Elliott today (Monday, February 28): "You had a very difficult start in life and a long history of substance abuse. You were carrying a cheese knife as a weapon."
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Ellen McAnaw, prosecuting, said Elliott was asking people for money at ATM machine around 10pm. James Dyer, a volunteer at Stokes Croft Post Office, spotted what was happening and told him not to harass people.
Miss McAnaw told the court: "The defendant said to him 'the next time you intervene you'd better watch your back'. Mr Dyer feared the defendant would carry out violence."
Elliott went to accommodation nearby, where security officer Nuradin Rage told him to leave as he was not a resident. In an argument that ensued Elliot threatened to chop his head off and put petrol through his letter box, the court heard.
Miss McAnaw said Elliott then returned to Mr Dyer, produced the cheese knife from his waistband and said: "If anyone tries anything they'd better watch themselves." He then asked people for money, police arrived in five minutes and arrested him. He told officers he couldn't recall the last three days.
Mark Ashley, defending, said: "He used cannabis from the age of 11 and was introduced to heroin by his father in his teens. He knows he's going to get a custodial sentence today. He's taken a fairly positive view."
The court heard apologetic Elliott was trusted with his prison job and realised there was a more positive future away from drugs.
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