A ‘tanked up’ troublemaker threatens men
HE USED A KNUCKLE DUSTER
A MENACING and “tanked up” troublemaker aggressively brandished a knuckle duster and used it to intimidate three men and steal beer from them.
Heavy drinker Andrew Burns had been given a “golden opportunity” to avoid prison only ten days earlier.
He told Hull Crown Court that he had learned his lesson but a judge told him that it was “too little, too late” and that now he must “pay the price”.
Burns, 29, of Waterland Close, Hedon, admitted assault, possessing a knuckle duster as an offensive weapon and theft, on September 18.
Felicity Hemlin, prosecuting, said that Burns went to a flat in Sharp Street, Hull, but the occupier became suspicious and asked him to leave and to show his pockets in case he had stolen anything.
“The defendant did not like being challenged,” said Miss Hemlin.
He became aggressive and told the group: “I’ll have all three of you.”
Burns had a knuckle duster in his hand and said: “Just give me the beers and f*** off.”
He took them and swung a punch towards one of the men, but it did not land.
“All three men managed to get away from the defendant and lock themselves in the flat,” said Miss Hemlin.
Police attended and Burns was found in Newland Avenue.
He tried to walk away but was restrained on the ground. The beer was not found.
Burns had convictions for 31 previous offences, including robbery, assault causing actual bodily harm, assault and harassment.
He was in breach of a ten-week suspended prison sentence imposed by Hull magistrates, on September 8, for harassment and criminal damage.
Richard Thompson, mitigating, said that Burns managed just a matter of days after the suspended sentence was imposed before committing the new offences.
“He was drinking heavily, he accepts, and he struggled to adjust to being back in the community,” said Mr Thompson.
Burns had claimed that he had “lost everything” and, after spending two or three weeks in custody, he was back out with little support. He wanted to apologise to the victims.
“When in drink, he does have a tendency to lash out at people,” said Mr Thompson.
“He has a daughter who is now nearly ten and, most of her life, he has been serving custodial sentences.”
Judge David Tremberg told Burns that he had been given a “golden opportunity” by the magistrates through a suspended sentence.
“You were either unwilling or unable to take that opportunity,” said Judge Tremberg.
Within ten days, he was “making a nuisance” of himself, was threatening and demanded beer, which the man felt obliged to hand over.
The idea of Burns “roaming round” the streets of Hull “tanked up” with an offensive weapon was incompatible with good public order.
“If you carry on like this, you are going to be in and out of custody. You have got a debt to pay to society first,” said Judge Tremberg.
Burns was jailed for one year.