Man imprisoned after threatening to stab police and dog with screwdriver in Northampton

A Northampton man has been imprisoned after threatening to stab police officers and a dog with a screwdriver.

Mark Beasley, aged 36, of Arbour Court, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday, November 23 after pleading guilty to engaging in threatening behaviour.

Police were called to Beasley’s address on September 24 after a neighbour reported that a group of around 12 men were trying to kick in the front door to his house.

Henry James, prosecuting, said that police officers attempted to engage with the defendant but he was aggressive and abusive towards them as he armed himself with a screwdriver and a glass bottle.

The court heard that Beasley shouted obscenities at them and threatened to stab them as well as the police dog on the scene, saying “I will open you up like a tin of sardines.”

Mr James said the altercation lasted for an hour, tying down at least eight police officers and a negotiator to get him to cooperate before his arrest.

In committing this offence, Beasley was in breach of a suspended sentence order imposed earlier this year after he participated in a racist group attack on a family of two parents and their two sons, the court heard.

Mr James, describing the attack, said that the family was accosted by three men shouting racial abuse. They then went into a nearby pub to “round up troupes” - including Beasley - and the family was subsequently assaulted.

The court heard that Beasley was identified in video footage that showed him punching one of the boys, who was 15 years old.

Beasley claimed that he came out of the pub to have a cigarette and tried to help the family. He refused to name any others involved for fear of repercussions, the court heard.

Beasley has previous convictions for affray, disorder and violence, battery, criminal damage, harassment and possession of a knife in a public place, dishonesty offences, racially aggravated offences, threatening words and behaviour and malicious communication.

Daniel Green, in mitigation, said that - prior to the police’s arrival at his address when this latest offence took place, Beasley had been the victim of a group attack where he had suffered a dislocated knee.

The defence barrister said this was why Beasley was armed and in an agitated state. He added that the defendant is often followed home, which causes him distress.

Mr Green said: “When you look at what’s happened, his behaviour is unacceptable and he has pleaded guilty to that but it is being triggered by something out of his control.”

The court heard that Beasley had been a user of crack cocaine for up to 20 years of his life but has been clean for the last two years and a custodial sentence would negatively impact his abstinence.

Sentencing, Recorder Skinner said: “Instead of being grateful to the officers who came to your address to protect and help you, you were aggressive towards them.”

Beasley was sentenced to four weeks imprisonment for threatening behaviour and his 19 month suspended prison sentence was also activated so he will spend 20 months total in custody.