Doncaster knife man terrified neighbours with rant about "caving someone's head in"

A Doncaster man who terrified his neighbours when he armed himself with a knife and began shouting about "caving someone's head in" has been locked up.
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David Pepper was seen arguing with another man outside his home on Beechfield Road, just after midday on May 7, when he punched the man in the face and grappled with him on the ground, prosecutor Matthew Bean told Sheffield Crown Court.

Pepper went back inside and played loud music until two members of Target Housing arrived, following reports of the fight.

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He shouted he had been stabbed, and went inside to return moments later with a black-handled kitchen knife with an six to eigh inch-long blade.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.
Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.

"He appeared to be extremely angry," said Mr Bean. "He shouted about caving someone's head in. He shouted: "You watch what I am going to do. Just watch.""

He was told to calm down, but he tucked the knife into his waistband. He was arrested at 12.20pm, having discarded the knife.

When interviewed by police officers, he denied having a knife and said the three witnesses were mistaken.

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In a statement, his neighbours said they were left "concerned and worried" by his erratic behaviour, and fearful about meeting him in the street.

"The incident made me feel upset and worried,” one witness said. “I was concerned about the safety of members of the public.”

Ed Moss, mitigating, said: "It is abundantly clear that this is a man who led a chaotic lifestyle. He was sofa-surfing at the time.

"He reacted wholly inappropriately. He simply wants this out of the way."

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At the time, Pepper, who has an "absolutely appalling record" and a "poor history of compliance with court orders," was subject to a suspended sentence, imposed in February for a driving offence.

Pepper, 30, of Beechfield Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to possession of a blade, after initially denying it, and failing to surrender to court for a trial.

Judge Rachael Harrison told him: "You're fortunate not to be charged with much more serious offences."

On Wednesday, he was jailed for a total of 28 weeks, including 14 days for failing to surrender.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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