Man pulled knife on security staff

A MAN pulled a knife on security staff after being thrown out of a music festival, a court has heard.

Dafydd Cyril Havard had already been ejected from Logic dance music festival in Swansea but managed to sneak back in.

When thrown out again he brandished a kitchen knife at security staff, and began shouting threats.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the incident took place at the Logic festival being held at the Riverside Holiday Park near Swansea in September last year.

Paul Hobson, prosecuting, said 30-year-old Havard had already been removed on one occasion because of his behaviour, but had managed to get back in to the outdoor venue.

Havard was located and escorted to the exit, but began shouting threats.

Mr Hobson said Havard began shouting to the man he was with “give me the knife, give me the knife” before grabbing a kitchen knife from his companion’s trousers. Havard then approached security staff and pointed the weapon at them, telling them he was going to stab them.

The prosecutor said police were called, and with that the defendant left the scene.

Police soon arrived at the caravan park, and after searching the area found a topless Havard sat nearby.

The knife he brandished has never been found.

In a victim impact statement one of the security staff said Havard had been “totally out of control”, and he had been genuinely concerned for his safety.

Havard, of Velindre, Llandysul, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Dyfed Thomas, for Havard, said the dad-oftwo was genuinely remorseful for his actions on the day in question.

He added that the defendant had been offered work with a Bristol-based concrete company once the coronavirus lockdown was lifted.

Judge Catherine Richards told Havard it was clear he had been so intoxicated at the festival he had not been in control of himself.

She said the sight of a “drunk and drugged-up man” with a knife must have been extremely frightening for all those who witnessed it.

The judge said on the facts of the case, the offence crossed the custody threshold – the only question for her was whether to make the defendant serve the period of imprisonment immediately.

Giving the defendant credit for his guilty plea she sentenced him to 13 months in prison suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

The judge told him that if he committed any offences in the next year he would be brought back to court and the sentence could be activated – and she reminded him that that included the use of recreational drugs.