Doncaster man 'armed himself with meat cleaver and threatened to kill ex-partner'

Daniel Cross was made the subject of a restraining order when he was convicted of harassing the woman in January, 2020, a month after they broke up.

But he accosted her in the street in Armthorpe, Doncaster, on February 20, and shouted: "You're lucky that I haven't been banged up. When are you going to stop being a **** about this?"

When his ex replied: "When you drop dead and leave me alone," Cross threatened to blow her house up, prosecutor Catharine White said.

A week later he made a cut-throat gesture and told her: "I will kill you happily. I am going to smash your teeth down your throat."

He was arrested but claimed he was visiting friends and his ex had provoked the breach.

On October 29, Cross tussled with his ex's new partner, pushing him over a fence and pinning him to the ground, until his ex put him in a headlock.

While shouting abuse, he threatened to burn down the house of her new partner's mother.

The next day he tried to apologise to his ex, but became angry and began shouting threats to kill her and her partner.

Later, he turned up outside her home where he shouted more threats while carrying a meat cleaver. The police were called and Cross was arrested with the cleaver in his pocket.

Kevin Jones, mitigating, said Cross had behaved like a 13-year-old and needed to grow up following what he described as a four-month "schoolboy infatuation."

He said the two and half months Cross spent on remand had acted as a "short sharp shock." The weapon wasn't used or threatened to be used in the context of the offences, Mr Jones added.

Cross, 23, of Heron Court, Wheatley, Doncaster, admitted two counts of assault and possession of a blade, as well as breaching the restraining orders.

Recorder Felicity Davies sentenced him to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years. Cross must attend 30 rehabilitation days and the building better relationships programme, and carry out 300 hours of unpaid work. A new restraining order, banning him from contacting the woman, was made for five years.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a digital or print subscription to The Star. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Subscribe here https://bit.ly/2YqMXgK so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.