Boozed-up axe-man chopped his way into Sheffield home

A Sheffield alcoholic shouted "I'm going to f****** kill you" before he chopped his way through a door into the home of two strangers with an axe, a court heard.
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John Creswick was seen "acting strangely" before he accosted a man leaving a store and said: "I know who you are, I'm coming with you", said prosecutor Beverly Wright.

Although the man took the "long way home" to his wife's flat to "lose" Creswick, he was followed, Sheffield Crown Court, heard on Friday.

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Creswick knocked on their door, near his Skelton Walk home, and when it was answered, lunged at the man with three cans of beer, Ms Wright said.

Image of an axeImage of an axe
Image of an axe

He was pushed out of the flat, but returned 15 minutes later and "got through the door using an axe", then smashed a number of windows at the property, where there were several people, including children.

He was arrested and later told police he couldn't remember, or believe, what he had done, on November 30, last year.

The incident left the occupants "worried sick" that Creswick would return, Ms Wright said.

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The court heard he has 43 previous convictions, including robbery, and possession of an offensive weapon from 1992.

His last conviction was in 2002, when he received a "lengthy" prison sentence.

Janice Young, mitigating, said: "His wife describes him as a happy drunk but it certainly wasn't happy on this occasion.

“She said he tried to tackle his mental health problems with alcohol, and needs help to stop drinking.”

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Creswick, 44, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of a blade, at Sheffield Magistrates Court, on December 31.

Judge Sarah Wright said: "This was clearly a terrifying incident, but I note that you were immediately remorseful and said you couldn't remember the incident at all."

She said there were reasonable prospects for his rehabilitation so it would be unjust to impose the automatic prison sentence that a knife crime carries.

He received 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions and an alcohol treatment programme.

He must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £60 compensation.