Hornchurch man caught with breadknife after ‘argument with girlfriend’
A Hornchurch man caught with a breadknife in public told police he wanted to “do himself in” after an argument with his girlfriend.
Danny Norton, 29, of Crystal Avenue in Hornchurch, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday and admitted possessing a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority on June 15 at Corbets Tey Road in Upminster.
Prosecuting, Victoria Ojo said police had been called to a separate incident on Bridge Road in Upminster, but had approached Norton and another man as part of their enquiries.
After officers decided to search Norton, he told them he had the breadknife – which had an eight-inch blade – in the back pocket of his trousers.
He was then arrested, telling officers: “I just wanted to do myself in.”
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Mitigating, Denise Cole told the court Norton had an argument with his girlfriend.
“He was just fed up with having an argument,” she said.
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“He took a knife to scare his girlfriend to think he was going to kill himself.
“He sat in a park and decided to go back.
“By chance, police stopped him and he actually volunteered the information that he had a knife in his back pocket.”
Magistrates adjourned the case for three weeks and ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared.
Norton was granted unconditional bail to appear back at the court on Thursday July 17.
Chair of the bench Alan Russell told Norton: “The report will include all options, including custody.”
