Man used an axe on flat door ‘going to aid friend’

ADMITS AFFRAY IN RESPONSE TO CALL FOR HELP FROM WOMAN

SALUTE: Mike Kapur, centre, with RAF veteran Roy Rudham, left, and Richard Hurwood, Deputy Lieutenant, as the flag is raised at County Hall, in Glenfield

RESIDENTS of an apartment block were shocked and frightened when an armed man attacked a neighbour’s door with an axe.

Leicester Crown Court was told Kirandeep Virk was responding to a call for help from a female friend – but went about it in the wrong way.

The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to causing an affray in Chancery Place, Millstone Lane, in the city centre, on December 23, 2018.

Helen Marley, prosecuting, said the male victim, who did not make a complaint about the incident, had asked a woman around to his apartment and there was then a dispute between the two of them.

Virk became involved when the woman phoned him asking for help.

Miss Marley said: “He drove to Pocklington’s Walk, got an axe out of the boot and walked into the apartments at Chancery Place, where the man and woman were having an argument.

“The defendant was annoyed and upset. He used the axe to damage the door.

“The victim was unwilling to make a complaint, but the person who owned the flat complained about the £225 damage caused to the door.”

Judge Ebrahim Mooncey asked: “Did he (Virk) use the axe to threaten people?”

Miss Marley said: “There were people who poked their heads out of their doors, who were frightened and afraid of the attitude he had, but there’s no suggestion he used the axe to threaten them.”

Sentencing, Judge Ebrahim Mooncey told Virk: “You were answering a call for help from your friend, but there are certain ways of doing it.

“Here, we have you armed with an axe. Why have one in your boot?”

Virk said: “The axe and gardening equipment in my boot belonged to another individual.”

Nathan Palmer, mitigating, said: “It was a confusing set of events and he was concerned another person may be in danger.

“The landlord was phoned and the police were called and there were attempts to engage with the authorities.

“He knows his behaviour was unacceptable, especially when other people were around.”

Virk, formerly of Evington, was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 15 months.

He was placed on an electronically monitored three-month curfew at an address in Lee Circle, in the city centre, between 9pm and 6am.

The judge ordered Virk to pay £225 compensation for the damaged door.