Telford man with knife caused teenage girl to have panic attack, court hears
A Telford man with a knife in his hand caused a teenage girl to have a panic attack when he raced outside to confront youths who had thrown a brick through his window, a court heard.
William Armer had the kitchen knife in his hand outside the community centre in Brookside while he was speaking to the girl, who was the only one not to flee the scene.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard the 30-year-old had just moved into a flat in Burford when the window was smashed on March 25 this year.
Mr Richard Davenport, prosecuting, said Armer came out of the house to confront the youths "brandishing a kitchen knife".
The gang all dispersed apart from the girl – and Armer shouted "It better not have been any of your mates" at her as he held the knife, the prosecutor said.
He then went back inside to put the knife back before coming back out unarmed to continue to look for them.
Armer, now of Deepfield, Dawley, Telford, admitted affray and possession of a bladed article at a previous court hearing and appeared to be sentenced.
Mr Andrew Wilkins, for Armer, said: "His flat was, not to put too fine a point on it, under attack.
"At that point in time he had a kitchen knife in his hand, which he was using for perfectly proper purposes, and he went outside still holding the knife.
"He realises very quickly he shouldn't have the knife with him and goes back and puts it away.
"Of course the girl is scared and she says she had a panic attack.
"He has lost his accommodation as a result of the incident and is now back living with his mother."
Judge Peter Barrie sentenced Armer to a 12-month community order and ordered him to pay £200 towards court costs.
The judge said: "You went out to remonstrate with them, you wanted to find out who was responsible.
"That is a perfectly understandable reaction.
"Taking a kitchen knife with you, however, was a very foolish reaction which has got you into all this trouble.
"She (the young girl) must have been very scared."
