Court Festival goer brandished knife at racecourse gates
AMAN who brandished a knife outside Cheltenham Racecourse during The Festival claimed he only had it to use as cutlery.
Harry Hicks admitted possessing the blade in a public place when he appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
It happened outside the main entrance to the course at about 10.45am on March 13.
The court heard Hicks, of Cloudesley Road, London, had been drinking and messing about with friends during a visit to Cheltenham for this year’s racing festival.
Prosecuting, Peter Ashby said the 58-year-old was seen to pull the black handled kitchen knife from his clothing after his group had rowed with another group.
A witness, who had been selling coffee at the site, said Hicks did so despite his friends twice trying to pull him away from the confrontation.
Mr Ashby said: “He pointed the knife
at the group he had been angry with. He held it out for several seconds before putting it back in his pocket.”
The witness reported the matter to the police and Hicks was arrested. He was found to have a fork on him, as well as the knife.
Defending, Clare Buckley said Hicks suffered from anxiety and depression and from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The latter meant he carried the cutlery on him because he could not cope with using utensils that did not belong to him.
She said he would not eat out at cafes or restaurants unless they had a fivestar food hygiene rating.
She added: “He accepts he produced the knife but it wasn’t in an aggressor or confrontational manner. He never intended to use it. It was a joke that went horribly wrong.”
Magistrates decided the matter was too serious for them to deal with and adjourned the case, for sentencing, to Gloucester Crown Court on May 24.
Hicks was released on unconditional bail. robin.jenkins@reachplc.com