Man Who Brandished 1.5ft Blade Escapes Jail Sentence

A 43-year-old man, who brandished knives in a dispute over a bike, has escaped an immediate custodial sentence.

Grimsby Crown Court heard how Paul White, of Scunthorpe, had seen a bike – which he believed to be his – on his way to his sister's house. He then returned to the property wielding a large kitchen knife and bread knife.

Peter Byrne, prosecuting, said that one witness saw the defendant outside the house holding a blade that was 1.5ft in length. On August 5, White pleaded guilty to two counts of having a blade in a public place.

The defendant – who has 44 convictions for 103 offences stretching back to 1990 – was on probation at the time of the offence and could have faced a custodial sentence.

Sentencing White, Judge Paul Watson QC said that the defendant could have "unquestionably" done damage with the knives, but acknowledged that he had been doing well with a rehabilitation order.

The judge passed a sentence of six months in prison suspended for 12 months. He told White that if he committed a further offence in the next 12 months, he would be sent to jail.

Leaving the courtroom, White said "You will never see me again."

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GV Hale

Court Solicitors