TEEN PULLED A KNIFE ON BOUNCERS ‘AFTER DRINKING 30 SHOTS’
18-year-old bashed doorman on head with drinks tray
AN ‘obscenely’ drunk teenager pulled out a knife on a doorman who had barred his friend.
James Brown had taken the kitchen knife with him to Hogarths Gin Palace in Newcastle after earlier being refused entry to another bar.
Staff ejected the 18-year-old’s intoxicated friend and Brown took drinks out for them both.
But he was told he could not do that and his friend became aggressive.
The doorman punched him in self-defence which prompted Brown – who had consumed at least 30 shots – to hit him over the head with the drinks tray.
He then took out the knife from his bag but was restrained by door staff from nearby bars. While detained he threatened to stab the doormen.
Now Brown has been sentenced to eight months detention in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for 18 months, at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Power said the doorman witnessed Brown pulling a knife from his ‘man bag’.
She added: “It was a kitchen knife with a blade two to four inches long. He was concerned due to the number of people around and struck the defendant.
“When other door staff became involved and restrained the defendant the knife was on the floor and underfoot.
“While he was restrained he was heard to say, ‘I will have you, I will stab all of you’.”
Brown was arrested but was so intoxicated he was sick in the police vehicle. He was taken to hospital to be checked.
He was later interviewed at the police station and told officers he had drunk four Jagermeisters and four sambucas in the first bar he had been in followed by 25 to 30 shots plus pints of Carling.
He accepted he had a knife. He said it was to protect himself and he had no intention of using it but had it to intimidate people.
Brown, of Waterloo Road, Cobridge, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in public and assault.
Jason Holt, mitigating, said Brown had just turned 18 at the time and has no previous convictions. He came to Stokeon-trent from London and lived at the YMCA in Hanley.
Mr Holt said: “It was a gross error of judgement. He does realise how stupid he was.”
Brown must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and a four-month electronically-monitored curfew from 9pm to 5am.
Judge Paul Glenn said: “I have agonised over your case. I am just about persuaded to impose a suspended sentence but I can’t tell you how close you have come. If you mess about you will come back to this court and I will have no hesitation at all sending you away.”
Brown was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the doorman and £425 costs.