Bravery award for the passer-by who tackled this knifeman
HE TRIPPED AGGRESSOR AND HELD HIM ON THE GROUND
A PASSER-BY has been handed an award for bravely helping police tackle a Derby knifeman.
Derby Crown Court heard how Paul Jefferies alerted officers that Ross Housechild was armed with the fearsome foot-long blade in Ilkeston Market Place.
They rushed to the scene and despite using their spray on the angry 28-year-old, this did not stop him.
So Mr Jefferies jumped in to help, first tripping up and then holding on to Housechild while officers subdued and handcuffed him.
The hearing was told the courageous witness has been handed a High Sheriff’s Award for his bravery.
A judge has deferred sentence on Housechild, of Radbourne Street, until later this year.
Siward James-Moore, prosecuting, said: “The events unfolded at around 10am on October 12 when a different witness saw three men arguing in Ilkeston Market Place. One of them, this defendant, was heard to say to one of the other men ‘I will ******* have you.’
“Mr Jefferies also saw what was happening and said the defendant was being very aggressive.
“He said he saw him go into a nearby flat then come out again.
“He said it was clear the defendant was under the influence of something when he went back over and squared up to the second man, who punched the defendant to the ground and walked away.”
Mr James-Moore said witnesses then saw Housechild go back to the flat a second time and come out clutching the knife.
He said: “A female called the police terrified for everyone’s safety. Two police officers appeared and ran up shouting ‘he’s got a knife.’ “One of them used their spray on the defendant’s face, but he was still able to start running away. “As he did, Mr Jefferies tripped him up and ended up on the ground restraining him.
“He said he realised the defendant had a knife, he saw it was around one foot long.
“Mr Jefferies said he placed himself on the defendant saying he did not want to get off him for fear of being attacked by him. “He has since been handed a High Sheriff’s Award for his bravery.” Housechild, who has a number of previous convictions including a jail sentence for grievous bodily harm in 2014, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. He also admitted to being in breach of two previous orders.
Laura Pitman, mitigating, asked Recorder Paul Mann QC to let her client out of prison and defer his sentence.
She said: “The family are trying everything they possibly can trying to get this man the help that he needs.”
Recorder Mann QC deferred the sentence until early June.
Freeing Housechild from HMP Nottingham he said: “You have a disturbing (criminal) record and you are a tortured person.
“What you really need is help now and unless you get the help that has been described to me then it won’t take long for you to either do something stupid to yourself or something equally stupid to another human being.”
Recorder Mann handed Housechild a two-month curfew, confining him to his address each night between 7pm and 7am.
A female called the police terrified for everyone’s safety. Officers appeared and ran up shouting ‘he’s got a knife’.
Siward James Moore