KNIFEMAN CONFRONTED STAFF AT HOSTEL AFTER THEFT FROM HIS ROOM
24-year-old was ‘angry and aggressive’
ANGRY Lewis Proctor brandished a knife at hostel staff after someone stole property from his room.
The 24-year-old lost his temper when he discovered cash and other items had gone missing from his room at the Adullam hostel in Stoke.
He took a knife to the reception desk and demanded staff find out who the thief was, leaving them fearful he was going to commit serious violence.
Proctor has now been told he will face a prison sentence after he admitted the offence in court.
Because of the seriousness of the crime – and the fact he already has a knife offence on his record – he could not be sentenced at the magistrates’ court and will have to wait to learn his fate at the crown court.
Prosecutor Karen Wright told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: “The defendant returned to his room to discover cash and other items had been taken. He went to the reception desk with a knife. He was angry and aggressive.
“He was demanding staff find out who had stolen the items. The incident was recorded on CCTV.
“He then went into the garden still holding the knife. He was denied access back into the building because of the knife and tried to force the doors open.”
Police were called and Proctor, of Woodville Terrace, Meir, was arrested. He pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place. The offence took place on July 15.
Ms Wright said: “A staff member at the hostel said, ‘This incident made me feel scared. The defendant was extremely aggressive and I feared he had the potential to be extremely violent’.
“Another witness who was present said she had serious concerns about what Proctor was willing to do if he confronted someone he believed had stolen his belongings.”
Proctor was not represented by a solicitor in court. District Judge Marcus Waite told him he would have to be sentenced at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
He said: “This is too serious for this court to be able to sentence you. This is not your first offence of using a knife. You will need to be committed the the crown court for sentence.”
Proctor will appear at the crown court on a date to be fixed.