Man threatened mam and kids with Samurai sword

A nightmare neighbour terrified a Sunderland school-run mum and her children with a Samurai sword as they sat in their car – and threatened to slit a man’s throat in a separate incident.

Daniel Mutimer, 30, struck terror into the woman and the youngsters – aged five and two - when he appeared at her passenger door with the weapon.

He did so seconds after she had placed them inside the vehicle outside an address in Millfield, to set off for school on Thursday, September 10, a court heard.

She drove off, and police who responded had to use a protective spray to subdue him in his home, but not before he repeatedly kicked one.

Weeks earlier burly Mutimer, now of Scruton Avenue, Plains Farm, Sunderland, had told a man, who he also did not know, “I’m going to stab you and slit your throat”.

His bizarre behaviour was part of a campaign of intimidation after moving in with his girlfriend, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

It has in part led the mother to put her home up for sale and to her children seeking counselling through their school.

It also had a huge impact on Mutimer’s male victim.

Prosecutor Grace Taylor said: “In December 2019, a female moved into an address a few doors down. There are then issues with the defendant.

“Whenever he sees her he makes gestures towards her, which she finds distressing, and when her children are present.

“The gentleman says that he also doesn’t know the defendant and doesn’t know why he abuses him in the street.

“On July 25 the man and his mother were in a car, it was a hot day. The defendant was looking over.

“He said to him, ‘I’m going to stab you and slit your throat’. The victim’s mother said she was going to call the police.”

Ms Taylor said Mutimer struck with the sword weeks later, adding: “The defendant came outside his property.

“She decided not to look and drove away but when she approached where the defendant was living, he came to the nearside, holding a Samurai sword.

“He lunged at her with the sword.

"She was only travelling at about 10mph, she was terrified for her and her children.

“She believed he was going to chase her car down and set her car on fire.”

Mitigating, solicitor Greg Flaxen said: “It’s an early guilty plea to all matters.” District Judge Kathryn Meek told Mutimer he must be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court and adjourned the case until next month.

She said: “It doesn’t mean to say that the crown court will exercise it’s greater sentencing powers or that you will go to prison.”

Mutimer pleaded guilty to causing harassment, alarm or distress, assault by beating of an emergency worker and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He was granted bail until his sentencing on Wednesday, March 3, on condition he does not contact prosecution witnesses and does not go within 100 metres of the mum.