Kindess met with violence
CARTWRIGHT THREATENED STRANGER WITH STABBING
A STRANGER’S kindness was met with city centre stab threats when he offered to buy a drink for a man he thought was homeless.
Iain Cartwright was on Newcastle’s Clayton Street at night when the victim came upon him and decided to try to help.
When the member of the public, who said Cartwright appeared to be homeless, offered to take him for a drink, he responded by saying he would probably not get in but was assured the man knew the pub manager and it would be fine.
A court heard the victim felt sympathy for Cartwright and wanted to assist but when he started asking questions he was met with aggression.
Neil Jones, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “The complainant felt sorry for him and said he wanted to speak to the defendant to understand his problems.
“He asked if he was homeless and whether he did drugs and the defendant became aggressive and began to shout, various words of abuse were shouted, including ‘I will ******* stab you.’”
The victim went in to the Dog and Parrot pub but after seeing Cartwright through a window, he again felt guilty and went out to speak to him.
He then noticed a metal object in his hand, which turned out to be a multi-tool with a bottle opener on one end and a small serrated blade on the other. Cartwright uttered threats to the man, who managed to get the tool out of his hand and stood on it to stop him retrieving it. When Cartwright was arrested he was found with a syringe with fluid in it, foil, an off-white powder and a small amount of cannabis. The 39-year-old, of Graingerville North, Arthur’s Hill, Newcastle, who has 173 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to affray and possessing drugs and was given four months suspended for 18 months with a drug rehabilitation order.
Judge Jeremy Freedman told him: “That was a disgraceful incident in March last year.
“Doubtless you were under the influence of alcohol and drugs but that does not excuse your conduct.
“You couldn’t complain if I locked you up but I’m not going to as I think there is work to be done to wean you off alcohol and drugs.
“But this is your opportunity, you have to co-operate and be compliant otherwise you will end up back in court and be locked up.
“That is your chance, Mr Cartwright, make the most of it.”
Andrew Walker, mitigating, said addiction experts were willing to work with Cartwright and there is hope he can get clean.
He asked if he was homeless and whether he did drugs and the defendant became aggressive Neil Jones