Knifeman threatened ambulance staff and police then 'smeared blood across cell', Sheffield court hears

Adam Booth, aged 36, of Clarkes Croft, Wombwell, Barnsley, was found with a knife at an address on Cemetery Road, Worsbrough, Barnsley, by Yorkshire Ambulance Service after they received a report of a male harming himself.

Prosecuting barrister Fatima Zafar told Sheffield Crown Court on June 16 that Booth told two ambulance staff he had consumed wine and he had self-harmed to his legs and a thumb and he became aggravated and abusive and threatened to stab them.

Ms Zafar added that armed police were also insulted after they arrived at the property and Booth told them he had a knife and he was going to stab them.

As two officers tried to detain Booth he pulled out the knife and waved it, according to Ms Zafar, and they deployed a stungun and detained the defendant in a police cell where he smeared blood on a wall.

Booth told police he had been hearing voices and had felt scared.

The defendant, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife, affray and causing damage after the incident on August 25, 2018.

Richard Canning, defending, said the incident happened during a low time for Booth who has not been arrested for any offence since and has settled down in a relationship and is drug-free.

Recorder Adrian Langdale QC told Booth: “You know what you did was remarkably stupid and potentially dangerous and you only have to look at other circumstances in other countries to know how dangerous it was not just for you but for others.”

Recorder Langdale told Booth that anyone threatening police or the ambulance service with a knife can expect to go to prison but he recognised that the sentencing had been delayed and since the incident the defendant has not committed any new offences.

Booth was sentenced to 15-months of custody suspended for two-years with a three-month curfew but he was warned if he commits another offence or breaches his suspended sentence he will go to prison. He must pay £65 compensation, £85 costs and a victim surcharge.