A man has been jailed for more than a year for wielding a meat cleaver while threatening to kill his neighbour.
Martin Gould, from Oakenholt, northeast Wales, told his neighbour he would “f***ing kill him” during the incident on the night of February 15.
Prosecutor William Griffin said Gould, described as “highly intoxicated” was seen entering his property before returning with a meat cleaver as he made the threat.
Price retreated into his flat as Gould shouted at passers-by, while the victim’s partner feared for the safety of their young children inside the property.
Police were called and Gould, 38, was arrested.
After a trial at Mold Magistrates’ Court, he was convicted of threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place, and he was sentenced on Thursday at Mold Crown Court.
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Gould has been sentenced to 20 months in prison
The court heard the defendant had four convictions for 14 offences, including using violence to enter a premises.
In addition, the latest offence involving the meat cleaver happened while he was already serving a community order.
Representing Gould, Ryan Rothwell claimed that while he suffered from mental health issues and had a traumatic background, he was hard working.
He added Gould had made significant progress under a community order to stop taking drugs, however he still struggled with alcohol and would therefore benefit from a suspended sentence with support to deal with that “long-standing issue”.
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After a trial at Mold Magistrates’ Court, he was sentenced on Thursday at Mold Crown Court
Judge Rhys Rowlands rejected the request, saying the offence was so serious “it can only be dealt with by an immediate custodial sentence”, and sentenced Gould to 20 months behind bars.
Rowlands said: “Your behaviour has had a profound effect upon the victims.
“The partner stated she was ‘terrified’ and felt very scared for herself, her fiance and the children.
“As she said, ‘no-one has the right to make me feel scared in my own home and I was in fear the man was going to break into my home and hurt myself and my family’.”