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More on KentOnline
A “lonely” university cleaner went on a drunken rampage through a city centre despite lockdown restrictions.
Matthew White was also found to be carrying a snooker ball in a sock after threatening to stab the bus controller at Canterbury’s Stagecoach depot.
The 46-year-old kick-started his trail of chaos by trying to smash the window of Boots in Gravel Walk.
But after security staff restrained the Christ Church University cleaner he turned his attention to the St George’s Lane bus depot.
White, who has 22 previous convictions for 36 offences, stumbled into parked buses and took a swing at Matthew Swan.
But after missing White drew a Swiss Army knife and threatened to stab staff however, he stumbled over and dropped the knife before being arrested.
Officers found a snooker ball in a sock and cannabis in his possession.White admitted carrying the 3-inch blade and home-made kosh and cannabis during police interview.
'He is undoubtedly a man who would find himself very vulnerable...'
However he claimed he couldn't remember throwing the punch and apologised to his victims.
Reading a statement from Mr Swan, prosecutor Steven Attridge, said: “The situation could have been far more serious but it has made him think twice about approaching people at night.”
Phil Rowley, for White, dubbed the ordeal “unpleasant and disturbing” behaviour from “a lonely and isolated man.”
He explained White, an anxiety and depression sufferer, “doesn’t drink frequently but drinks inappropriately”, and is taking steps to address matters.
“He is undoubtedly a man who would find himself very vulnerable in a custodial setting because of his presentation,” the lawyer added.
Judge Simon James said he was “just about persuaded” to suspend White’s prison term and voiced concerns he wasn’t charged for offences relating to the blade.
White, of Monastery Street, Canterbury, pleaded guilty to carrying the cosh, possession of cannabis and using threatening and alarming behaviour in public at a previous hearing.
He was handed 38 weeks custody suspended for 18 months and 60 hours of unpaid work for the incident in March last year.
“Any further disorderly behaviour in that 18 months will give me no option but to impose the custodial sentence many will richly believe you deserve today,” the judge added.
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