Man appeared at neighbour's door with loaded crossbow in "mad moment," Sheffield judge hears
Sheffield Crown Court heard the victim was “absolutely terrified”and believed he was “going to die”
A man appeared with a loaded crossbow at his neighbour’s door demanding to know where a mystery woman named “Sharon” was in a “moment of madness,” a court heard.
Jonathan Birks told his terrified neighbour - who had no idea who Sharon was - that god had “told” him she was behind the resident’s now shattered door.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the victim was “absolutely terrified,” believing he was “going to die” and lost control of his bladder during the March 23 incident on Moorgate Road, Rotherham.
When asked “who is Sharon?” by Recorder Anna Moran, Birks’ barrister said his client “cannot account for why that’s the complainant’s evidence”.
Zaiban Alam, prosecuting, described how the neighbour was encountered by Birks in the corridor outside his splintered door.
After he denied any knowledge of Sharon, Birks - whose Revo 7 crossbow was “20cm” from the complainant’s head - searched the flat for the unknown woman and her children with his neighbour.
“The defendant said he had spoken to god that morning and had been told Sharon was at the address,” said Ms Alam.
The “shaking and panicking” complainant then showed Birks his crucifix to appease him, said the barrister.
Birks then apologised and left the flat.
The court heard, however, he then appeared again the following morning directly outside the complainant’s bedroom window.
Ms Alam said the petrified householder snapped three photos of Birks before hiding and calling police.
Armed police apprehended him with Tasers an hour later in his Mini, where they found a bunch of flowers which Birks had bought as an apology to his neighbour.
An analysis of the crossbow showed it had three bolts in its magazine and one loaded in the chamber.
Birks’ barrister said his conduct was “something he has regretted since that day”.
The barrister said: “He let noises he was hearing in the building fester, anxiety built up and he felt it easier to use a weapon. It must be described as a moment of madness.”
The probation service had concluded Birks had a low likelihood of reoffending, said the barrister.
Recorder Moran told Birks the impact of the incident on the complainant was “entirely unsurprising”.
She added: “It must have been absolutely terrifying for him - to be accosted in his own home with a highly dangerous weapon.
“He believed he was going to die.”
However, noting Birks had no previous convictions, good character references and a positive probation assessment, she said: “You described this as a moment of madness and that must be what this was.”
The judge, suspending 13 months’ jail for two years, handed Birks 300 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and a 10-year restraining order.
Birks, of Moorgate Road, Rotherham, admitted affray and possession of the crossbow.