Knifeman drunk caught chasing man down street, court told

Pius Kibathi (21), of Eldon Road, Eastwood, was jailed for a year after admitting possessing bladed articles in a public place on October 1.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that another man needed 17 stitches in a stomach wound after the incident, but Kibathi was not charged in connection with this incident.

Mr Nicholas Neale, prosecuting, said when police arrived at the scene in the early hours of October 1 they found the injured man and Kibathi chasing another man down the street with knives in both hands.

When interviewed he said that he had gone out drinking at 10pm with friends and could not remember anything afterwards. The knives were traced to his home.

The court heard how he received an 18-month detention and training order in February 2006 after stabbing a man in the chest during an argument.

Mr Stuart Newton, mitigating, told the court that Kibathi and his friends had gone out drinking and downed an “explosive” mixture of drinks throughout the evening.

“It is still not clear what happened,” he added.

Mr Newton said that Kibathi had no recollection of the incident other than waking up in a police cell but understood that arming himself could have led to very serious consequences.

He urged the court to suspend any jail term.

Judge Alan Goldsack said: “There is very great concern at the moment about people taking knives out into the street and using them to threaten other people.”

“Those who carry out knives into the street anticipating trouble can only expect immediate custodial sentences.”