Hythe carpenter threatened to stab man in Bouverie Road West, Folkestone
Published: 14:00, 28 January 2024
Updated: 13:08, 29 January 2024
A carpenter pulled a knife out of his waistband and threatened to stab a man, claiming he had been robbed by him just weeks before.
Michael Harragan was drunk when he confronted the man in Bouverie Road West, Folkestone, and shouted: "I'm going to knife that **** over there."
A court heard the 53-year-old, who has an alcohol problem, had fallen on hard times during the Covid pandemic and had started drinking more.
Deputy District Judge Jennifer Thwaites was told Harragan, of Orchard Valley, Hythe, was arrested after the incident which happened on August 29 last year.
He was later charged with threatening a person with a bladed article.
He admitted the offence when he appeared in the dock at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on January 17.
The judge heard that, despite not being able to remember the incident, Harragan claimed he threatened the man with the knife as he had been robbed by him just weeks before.
Judge Thwaites decided to send the case to Canterbury Crown Court as she deemed the offence too serious for her sentencing powers.
She ordered a pre-sentencing report to be completed on Harragan before then.
He was granted bail until his sentencing hearing which will be heard at the crown court on a date to be fixed.
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KentOnline Court Reporter