Exclusive:Sheffield man who menaced neighbours seen with “very large” machete at 8am as schoolchildren passed by
Matteo Tilloca’s elderly neighbours had “considered moving” since he had arrived on their once quiet street, Sheffield Crown Court heard
A Sheffield man was seen brandishing a “very large” machete in a residential street at 8am while in a confrontation with another male as children passed by on their way to school.
Matteo Tilloca’s elderly neighbours had “considered moving” since he had arrived on their once quiet street, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
A judge who viewed footage of the disturbing incident - noting it was half-a-mile from a school and children were present - described it as “chilling”.
Tilloca, aged 25, was seen “pacing up and down his garden talking to himself and down onto the road” on Glebeland Road, Stocksbridge, on November 4 last year, said prosecutor Stephanie Hollis.
She added: “It’s clear at that time of the morning children were present walking to school - it was a very large machete and you can see why the neighbours were concerned.”
A resident on the street said Tilloca’s address had been at the centre of trouble for some time - seeing damage done to his vehicle and windows “put through”.
Ms Hollis said when police arrived Tilloca “denied any knowledge” of the machete, however it and a Zombie knife were found in a hedge in his garden.
A weary couple in their 70s who had lived on the once quiet street for 35 years said they had considered moving since Tilloca moved in 12 months prior.
Reading from their statement, Ms Hollis said: “They say there were no problems before this family moved in. There are a lot of children in the neighbourhood and there’s a risk to the wider society.
“There’s drug use and shouting at all hours - they feel the actions of others are putting them at risk.”
Judge Peter Hampton, describing the incident as “chilling”, adjourned Tilloca’s sentence pending probation reports.
Tilloca’s barrister Lucy Miller said he had now stopped using cannabis and reduced his alcohol consumption.
Addressing the judge’s public safety concerns, she said if a sentence was suspended Tilloca would be moving away from the area.
Tilloca, of Glebeland Road, Stocksbridge, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and a knife in a public place.