Knifeman ‘was fed up of noise’

A MAN living in shared accommodation confronted a neighbour about noise, with a knife in each hand. Keith Lewis, who lives in Clos Cefn-y-maes in Llanelli, shouted: “I’m fed up of all the noise,” from his flat on October 15, something that was heard by his neighbour, Tracy Maides, and her former partner.

He then walked upstairs with knives in both hands, slurring and staggering.

Miss Maides’s former partner asked what he was doing with the knives, and he replied, “don’t worry, I won’t do anything”, before throwing both of them back downstairs. He kept making reference to the noise, while adding: “Stop lying, stop lying.”

Lewis then went back downstairs, picked up both knives, and returned to Miss Maides’s door.

Miss Maides decided to call the police, who advised her to go into her room and lock the door.

The pair had never spoken to each other before the incident, the court heard.

Officers arrived at the scene, and Lewis told them he’d “had a few too many drinks and had gone too far.”

The 51-year-old, who previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a knife in a public place, and a further count of using threatening, abusive words or behaviour while appearing before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, came before Swansea Crown Court via a prison video-link for sentencing.

During police interview, Lewis had admitted he had consumed 10 to 15 pints that day, and had been shopping.

As he was unpacking, he could hear noise upstairs, and loud music had been an issue, he explained.

He admitted “losing it” and left his flat with two knifes in his hands, adding: “I should not have done it.” The court heard Lewis had six convictions for seven previous offences

In mitigation, the court heard Lewis was “very apologetic” and “puts it down to drink and frustration”.

Judge Geraint Walters said: “This was a pretty awful piece of behaviour.

“You picked up two knives, while obviously drunk, while having a dispute with your neighbour.

“I’m satisfied there must have been a history of noise disturbance, but that’s not the way it’s sorted out.

“The landlord has that obligation, and that route is the right way of sorting things out. Because you had so much to drink you acted in this bizarre and very dangerous way,” the judge contunued.

“When you take a knife into an incident like this there is no knowing how it’s going to end.

“You didn’t actually use the knife, you threw it away.

“You are terribly close to going to prison today,” he warned Lewis.

Lewis was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He must carry out 180 hours’ unpaid work.

An order has also been made for the forfeiture and destruction of the knives.