Customer pulled out knife in phone shop after free repair demand was refused
JUDGE PRAISES SHOPKEEPER WHO THOUGHT MAN WAS ‘JUST TRYING TO HIDE IT’ AFTER HE CALLED POLICE
A customer pulled out a kitchen knife when a shopkeeper refused to repair his mobile phone free. Robert Darren Parry, 47, had gone into a shop in Caernarfon.
The shopkeeper became concerned about the former addict’s behaviour and rang police. That’s when Parry took out the knife which had an 8cm long blade.
But a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday praised the dignity of the shopkeeper for saying he thought Parry was trying to hide the knife, as police could be on their way, not threaten him.
The defendant admitted possessing a bladed article in a public place. But the judge noted his attempts to kick addiction and gave him a one-year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Prosecutor Matthew Dunford said Parry went into the mobile phone shop in Pool Streel, Caernarfon, on March 31, 2021. He told the shopkeeper his phone was cracked and asked for it to be repaired free. But Parry, currently on methadone, was clearly under the influence of drugs and the shopkeeper refused. Parry became verbally aggressive and the shopkeeper rang police.
The court heard Parry took out the knife and went out but came back while the shopkeeper was still on the phone to police. Parry stood in the shop doorway with the knife. He dropped the knife and then kicked it away.
Then he picked it up and tried to hide it in an outside bin, where police found it.
Mr Dunford said of the shopkeeper: “He expressed the view that he had got the knife out to hide it when the police were called rather than to threaten him.”
The court heard Parry, of Llys Tryfan, Caernarfon, had had trauma in his life and abused drugs since he was a teenager. The judge Her Honour Nicola Saffman told him: “You are a very sad, vulnerable character in need of help to overcome your appalling addiction.”
But the judge noted from a report he is finally taking steps to kick drug addiction at the age of 47. He was homeless but is now living in a hostel and staff describe his behaviour as good and polite.She also ordered Parry to attend rehabilitation activity to address his past trauma and nine days on a drug rehabilitation programme.He must also report to a judge every month for updates. The knife will be forfeited and destroyed.
The judge also praised the shopkeeper for his dignity and assessment of the defendant’s intentions.