Suspended jail term for Bristol knife man
A Bristol man who obtained a kitchen knife and returned to the scene of a fight has been given suspended custody.
Callum Stilwell collected the seven-inch long blade simply as a scare tactic and had no intention of using it, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Stilwell, 19, of Haynes Lane, Staple Hill, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade in a public place.
Imposing eight months in a young offenders institution, suspended for a year, Judge David Ticehurst told him: "Offences like this can escalate. If there had been a struggle you could have ended up killing someone.
"That may be not your intention, but it could have been the consequence."
The judge told Stilwell to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the good of the community and told him to pay £200 court costs.
John Dyer, prosecuting, told the court Stilwell was involved in an altercation outside the Oak pub in Staple Hill, and was seen to run off.
He was then seen to return to the scene with the blade and was heard to say "I'm going to get him," Mr Dyer said.
Police called to the scene found a knife discarded between a car and a wall.
Mr Dyer said: "Mr Stilwell made full admissions as to having the blade.
"He said a man started on him and he tried to get away.
"The man was calling other friends and he got the knife to scare the males away.
"He admitted he was drinking and he was trying to protect his mate."
Sam Jones, defending, said Stilwell fully appreciated the seriousness of the offence and how the court would view it.
He said: "It was the early hours. He was with his friends and the altercation was started by another person.
"He was with his girlfriend and he was concerned for the safety of the people present.
"He grabbed the first thing he could lay his hands on. It was a temporary possession as a result of the fear he apprehended from the altercation."
Mr Jones said his client worked part-time as a kitchen porter and hoped to start a college course in January with the intention of being a fitness instructor.
Stilwell hoped for the support of his family and employer following the proceedings, the court was told.
2 Comments
by John, Bristol
Friday, September 25 2009, 7:29AM
“Another failure of the justice system.
This sort of penalty sends out all the wrong messages to those who use, or may, use weapons.
It is a sad fact of life that many who go out on a Friday or Saturday nightto have a good night out - that is, drink as much as possible - do not have the sense they were born with to walk away from trouble.
Something about loss of face and appearing weak?”
by Samantha Creed, Longwell Green
Thursday, September 24 2009, 8:36AM
“Yes the kind of person who carries a blade in public, we have the opportunity to lock him up, but choose not to do so.
thank you justice system, may the next victim live long enough to thank you...”