Sheffield knife man threatens to 'stab policeman in neck' before jumping in river

A police officer was called to a domestic incident, in a carpark on Matilda Street, where a woman said Stephen Edwards had breached a bail condition by contacting her.

But when the officer tried to speak to Edwards, who was sitting on a wall and drinking a can of beer, he denied the breach and refused to come quietly.

He pulled out a black-handled box-cutter knife and waved it in the air, saying: "I will stab you in the neck," said prosecutor Stephanie Hollis.

The officer drew his pepper spray and tried to subdue him, but Edwards turned and ran, ignoring commands to drop the knife.

"He jumped into the river and waded away," Ms Hollis added.

He escaped at 8pm, on December 17, last year, and was arrested at an address on Birchwood Grove, on January 14.

The court heard he has previous convictions for threatening behaviour and knife crime.

Rebecca Tanner, mitigating, said: "It is an ugly incident. While it was not his intention to use that knife he accepts that the policeman would not realise that.

"He panicked because he feared that he would be remanded in custody. In 2013 he received an immediate custodial sentence which was a difficult experience for him.

"That was at the forefront of his mind when he made that utterly foolish decision."

She said Edwards had written letters which showed his "genuine embarassment” and were a genuine apology."

"Alcohol is the underlying issue here," she said. "He is candid about relationship with his partner and the impact of his alcohol depedence. He would welcome assistance to change."

Edwards, 28, of Danewood Avenue, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to threatening an officer with a knife, at a hearing on February 13.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said that although rehabilitation was "feasible," it was his duty as a public servant to support police officers and jailed Edwards for 12 months.