Suspended sentence for bare-chested knife-wielding man

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A bare-chested man rushed into a Warrington street holding a large knife when his partner was involved in a confrontation with two men, a court heard.

Fortunately, the knife was not used and one of the men was able to show police where the weapon, a bread knife, had been thrown by William Gibbons.
Video clips were given to police by the man which showed how he and his companion had attended a flat in Grasmere Avenue, Warrington, and confronted the female occupant Megan Watson.

Andrew McInnes, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that she and one of the men had had a child together and they were having an angry row. Both men, who seemed to be drunk, were making disparaging remarks about her and threatening to report her to the police.
“Against that backdrop the defendant emerged from her address and engaged in the fracas,” said Mr McInnes.
He later explained that he had been drinking and was dozing when he heard the commotion and “grabbed a knife on the spur of the moment.”
Mr McInnes said that it was accepted his actions “had been made in defence of her.”
The prosecutor added that both of the men had failed to support the prosecution.

Gibbons, aged 40, of Greenwood Crescent, Warrington, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article on September 14, 2023.
The court heard that he has 36 previous convictions for 80 offences including affray and possessing a bladed article.
Eve Salter, defending, said that Gibbons had picked up the knife and gone out to help Miss Watson. He has been struggling with his mental health and is currently having counselling.
Gibbons, who has two children and a step-daughter, has previously been a takeaway delivery driver and is anxious to get back into work, she said.
“He is extremely remorseful and recognises he has made a mistake.”
District Judge Jack McGarva said, “You were extremely drunk when you came out with a knife to threaten and I recognise you did so in a misplaced attempt to protect your friend.
“But knives are a scourge. Every day you read in the papers about people being stabbed to death and sentences for possession of knives have to be tough to reflect that.”
The judge said, however, that he did not view him as a danger to the public and has experienced significant trauma and has poor mental health.
He imposed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 20 days rehabilitation activities. He also imposed a 12-month mental health requirement and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.


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