"I have a machete with that c***'s name on it" - South Yorkshire man threatened to decapitate his ex's new partner

A mentally-ill South Yorkshire man threatened to chop off the head of his ex's new partner and wrote the man's name on a machete blade, a court heard.
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In a phone call in April, Dominic Clarke told the woman: "I will do what I have to do to take you down.

"I have weapons and I will use them. I have a machete with that c***'s name on it."

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Police officers later found a machete with writing on the blade, prosecutor Robert Sandford told Sheffield Crown Court, on Friday.

Sheffield Crown CourtSheffield Crown Court
Sheffield Crown Court

On March 16, Clarke made the same threat during an appointment with his mental health coordinator. He claimed he tried to hang himself and planned to go on "a killing spree."

She contacted police and he was detained under the Mental Health Act. When he was interviewed he told police he had suffered from psychosis for two years, but denied making the threats.

In a statement, his ex-partner said she suffered from depression and was taking medication as a result.

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She described their relationship as “chequered”, and said it ended in December 2019. She attributed his psychosis to misusing drugs.

He has previous convictions for burglary in 2011 and breaching a restraining order.

Ian West, mitigating, said he "clearly needs support" but has made good progress while being on remand for nearly four months.

Clarke, 28, of Aughton Road, Swallownest, pleaded guilty to threats to kill and sending communications with intent to cause distress, on July 29.

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Judge Graham Reeds QC said his offending happened "against the background of the break-up of your relationship and your deteriorating mental health."

He said Clarke's "reaction to what happened was extreme," but he didn't show the weapon to anyone.

"You do retain some responsibilty for what you did because your psychosis was caused by drugs and you didn't take medication," the judge told him.

A 12 month community order was imposed with 30 rehabilitation days to "keep his mental health in the proper condition."

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A 12-month restraining order, banning him from contacting his ex-partner, was also made.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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