AN off-duty police officer, who kindly went over to help a drunken man slumped against a wall, was rewarded by having a knife brandished at him.
A court heard today (Thursday) how Matthew Lunt spotted the man, Nicu Mistreanu, lying against a wall in Lythgoes Lane, Warrington at about 10 pm on September 26 this year.
“He approached in order to assist him but the man then became agitated towards him and produced a flick knife from his pocket,” said Callum Ross, prosecuting.
Mr Lunt described Mistreanu as “brandishing the knife towards him” and walking towards him.
“Mr Lunt, fearing violence would be used against him, ran back towards his vehicle. He had been on the phone to the police throughout the incident and they arrived and arrested Mistreanu,” said Mr Ross.
“When searched, that knife was found in his left pocket. He admitted possessing that flick knife but denied threatening. He admitted being intoxicated,” he added.
Mistreanu, aged 57 of Lovely Lane, Bewsey and Whitecross, Warrington, pleaded guilty to common assault and possessing an offensive weapon. He has no previous convictions in the UK.
The defendant, who was not legally represented, was assisted in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court by a Romanian interpreter.
Via the interpreter he told the judge, “I take responsibility for what I have done, it will never happen again. It just happened this one time.”
He said he had just come from his job where he used the knife to open boxes and he had forgotten he had it with him.
“I have been seven years here and 10 years in England and have never done anything like this,” said Mistreanu, who was on the verge of tears. He added that he has stomach and teeth issues.
Judge Sarah O’Brien sentenced him to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and ten days rehabilitation activities.
She also imposed a six month alcohol treatment requirement and ordered him to pay £150 prosecution costs.
The judge said that he had caused “serious alarm” to Mr Lunt and he had been intoxicated at the time “which is why it happened.”
She said she accepted he was clearly very remorseful and had given assurances nothing like it would happen again. He also has some physical ill health, she added.
