Threat made to kill neighbour in doorstep attack
A VIOLENT thug threatened to kill his neighbour before grabbing him around the throat and punching him in the face, a court heard.
Christopher O’neil admitted assaulting dad Nathan Mcgraw on April 11 in Stone Road, Uttoxeter, where they both live.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard yesterday O’neil had previously shown “odd behaviour” towards his victim when he threatened to murder him. O’neil also said his family was in the CIA and government.
The victim assumed he had been drinking when he made the comment and never told the police. However, O’neil then reported Mr Mcgraw to police for dangling a child out of the window. Officers attended and accepted there was no merit to the allegations made about the child.
Sue Hayers, prosecuting, said on April 11 at around 6.30pm, once they had put the children to bed, Mr Mcgraw was watching television with his partner when he heard banging and shouting from the defendant.
At 7.30pm he opened the front door to have a cigarette when O’neil appeared and grabbed him around the throat before pushing him against a wall. The 39-yearold was wearing a plastic glove and said “look, I’ve put a glove on so I can murder you”. The victim still inside his home - was punched twice in the left eye by O’neil. He tried to push O’neil away, but the defendant pushed back and punched him a third time.
The victim managed to push him away and got inside his home and locked the door before the police were called. O’neil shouted that it was his “final warning” and it “would be worse next time”. The whole incident lasted about an hour.
The victim said he was not worried about himself, but was scared for his children. He was left with bruising to his left eye and pain to his neck, shoulder and Adam’s apple. He sustained an injury to his shoulder.
In a police interview, O’neil said he got on well with Mr Mcgraw until a week before the attack and he was wearing the white glove as he had been picking up dog mess. He heard a woman shouting and believed the victim was a domestic abuser, a claim that has been found to have no merit.
O’neil does have previous convictions, including one involving violence in 2019.
The case has been adjourned until June 9 for pre-probation reports to be prepared. O’neil answers to conditional bail until then.