By David Powell
A man threatened his landlord with 12-inch knife after being told to move out. Adam Holland had been given an eviction order but later approached his victim who feared he would be stabbed.
A judge today told the defendant it had been a “frankly ridiculous” thing to do but accepted he had mental health difficulties. The 30-year-old, of Feather Street, Flint, admitted threatening a person with a knife in a public place but his nine-month jail term was suspended for 12 months.
Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told Caernarfon Crown Court that a David Williams was the landlord of a house where Holland lived with his mother in September 2023. By September 9 the rent hadn’t been paid for about six months.
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So Mr Williams issued Holland and his mother with a notice to leave. He asked the tenants when they would leave and they said on the forthcoming Sunday.
The court heard Mr Williams left and went across the street to do some business at The New Inn in Llangynog. Soon afterwards Mr Williams got out of his car outside the pub and the defendant approached him.
Ms Elvin said Holland had a 12-inch knife in his right hand. She said: “Mr Williams was stood behind his car door trying to shield himself from any assault.
“The defendant waved his arms about a metre from Mr Williams whilst repeatedly shouting ‘I will have you’ .” The prosecutor said: “Mr Williams was perhaps understandably very scared and genuinely believed he would be stabbed.”
The defendant was said to be “aggressive” and “off his head”. The court heard Mr Williams told Holland to “f*** off”.
Holland kicked his Mitsubishi car’s bumper and said “I’ll be back to slash your tyres” and “I’m going to smash your place up”. Holland went back to his property.
Mr Williams rang the police. Holland was arrested and told officers he had actually had a “garden pole for his own protection”. He claimed he had taken it “to warn Mr Williams away”.
Dafydd Roberts, defending, said Holland had experienced and witnessed “significant trauma” in his life and had mental health difficulties.
But his reaction to a “further threat towards his mother” had been “completely wrong and he is thoroughly ashamed of himself”. The judge Her Honour Nicola Jones said it had been reasonable for Mr Williams to believe he might be stabbed.
She said his actions had been “frankly ridiculous” but out of character. The damage to the car had been a scratch.
He noted Holland’s life had taken a “sad and pathetic” turn since the offences and that he is “destitute”. But suspending the sentence she also ordered him to do 100 hours of unpaid work to give his life structure.
He must also do ten days of rehabilitation activity. There was no separate penalty for an offence of causing criminal damage to Mr Williams’ car.
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