Leeds man swung at police with tow hook after Stanley knife attack on neighbour's Range Rover
Neighbour called police after car-scratch attack
A man lunged at police with metal tow hook after he was seen taking a knife to his neighbour’s car.
Martin Beamish was going through “mental health crisis” at the time, Leeds Crown Court was told.
The 55-year-old admitted criminal damage, having a bladed article in public and assault on an emergency worker.
Prosecutor Zanisha Herbert said there had been issues between Beamish and the man, who also lives on Whincover Road in Farnley.
On November 30 last year, CCTV caught Beamish leave his home and approach the man’s Range Rover, before purposely scratching it with the sharp Stanley knife.
It was thought the damage cost was between £1,000 and £2,000 to repair.
The victim rang the police, and when they arrived, went to Beamish’s home and forced entry.
They found him in his bedroom holding the metal hook. He was ordered to put it down, which he ignored.
He then lifted it over his head and swung the hook at an officer, who was able to get out of the way.
He was disarmed and detained and taken to the police station, but refused to be interviewed.
Beamish has 11 previous convictions for 18 offences, including criminal damage and assault.
Little mitigation was given after Judge Simon Batiste said he would not lock him up.
Instead, he recognised Beamish was “suffering considerably” from mental-health issues at the time, and had stopped taking his medication, which he described as “foolish”.
He gave him a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation days to complete with probation.