Newtown knifeman was ‘close to jail’

Damien Ian Marsden, of Lon Eithin, was heard shouting outside outside his neighbour Anthony Evans’ window on October 7.

Marsden, 35, was alleged to have threatened to kill Mr Evans, before throwing the kitchen knife he had in his possession at the window ledge.

Marsden appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court from custody on Monday, where he admitted a section four public order offence.

He was handed a suspended sentence on Tuesday, and chair of the bench Leslie Curley said: “You were very, very close to going to prison for a long time, your record of offending is shocking.”

Prosecutor Helen Tench told the court that Mr Evans on the day in question Mr Evans was at home on October 7, when he heard banging at the door, He looked out of the window and saw to see Marsden below with a silver knife in his hand. The defendant shouted “I am going to kill you.”

Marsden then threw the knife at the window, and continued to shout at Mr Evans, accusing him of grassing someone up.

Mr Evans was left scared and called the police who arrived and seized the knife, then arrested Marsden.

Marsden told police: “They are crack heads living there. You don’t do anything about it. That is why I am taking things into my own hands.”

In interview Marsden told police he had been drinking as it was the two-year anniversary of the death of his nephew.

He admitted to talking to Mr Evans but said he didn’t take a knife or make any threats.

Mike Davies, defending, said his client was lucky it was a section four offence against him.

He said originally there could have been charges of robbery, possession of a knife and threats to kill.

He added his client had a substantial list of previous convictions, and he had not made an admission to having a knife when the offence occurred.

Julian Davies from the probation service said Marsden had been very low at the time, and understood his behaviour was wrong.

He added Marsden’s offences occured when he had been drinking, and currently he is subject to a two-year community order.

Magistrates allowed the community order to continue, and sentenced Marsden to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years.

Chair of the bench Mr Curley said: “You were very, very close to going to prison for a long time.

“These were serious threats of violence and the offence has passed the custody threshold.

“Your offending behaviour is all through drink. You need to get sorted of there is only one place you will be going.

“Your record is shocking and you are very lucky you did not go away.”

Marsden was also ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work, pay £100 compensation and a £115 victim surcharge. He was also made subject to a restraining order.