Man threatened to kill neighbour after argument

A MAN pulled a five-inch kitchen knife from the waistband of his trousers and threatened to kill his neighbour following an argument about a bike.

Mark Colman later sent his victim Darren Houlihan’s girlfriend threatening text messages, saying he was not afraid of going to prison, intending to intimidate him and obstruct the police investigation.

Newport Crown Court heard there was “bad blood” between the two men.

Emma Harris, prosecuting, said the incident occurred at Meirion Place in Tremorfa, Cardiff, on June 14.

Prosecutors said Colman and Mr Houlihan were in the communal area of their block of flats when there was an argument about a bike.

Ms Harris said: “The defendant pulled a knife from his waistband.”

The court heard Colman said: “I will f***ing kill you.”

Prosecutors said the defendant went back to his flat and Mr Houlihan called 999.

The defendant was arrested and police officers found a 5in silver-handled kitchen knife under a table in his flat.

Prosecutors said the police were subsequently made aware Colman had sent threatening messages to the complainant’s partner Catherine Williams.

One of the messages said: “Tell him if he does come near me I will not just pull a blade on him, I will use it.”

Another said: “Tell him if he ever comes near me again he is going to get hurt. I ain’t afraid of jail. I ain’t afraid of using a knife.”

Prosecutors said Colman had been before the courts for 106 previous offences.

The 47-year-old from Newport Road in Roath, Cardiff, admitted carrying a knife and intimidating a witness.

Jonathan Lewis, defending, accepted his client’s criminal record was “lengthy” but said he had not been to prison for more than two decades.

He suggested his offending was “slowing down” as he had not been before the courts for four years.

The court heard Colman had been living in Tremorfa for 10 years then Mr Houlihan moved into the same block of flats about two years ago and there was a “strained relationship” between them.

Mr Lewis added: “They did not see eye to eye for a variety of reasons.”

He described Colman’s offending as “ill-judged behaviour”, adding: “He knows the court’s attitude to kniferelated crime.”

In his sentencing remarks Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “There seems to be some bad blood between you and Mr Houlihan – a long-standing, simmering argument between you.

“It did not take long for that argument to escalate.

“You produced a knife and proceeded to threaten him.”

He noted the messages were “threatening” but did not prevent justice from being done.

The judge told Colman: “You have an appalling previous history of offending.”

The defendant was jailed for 15 months and an order was made for the knife to be destroyed.