Police release picture of a knife-wielding Doncaster thug who threatened a man outside Co-op store

Sheffield Crown Court heard on September 3 how Gavin Pearson, aged 42, of Glyn Avenue, Doncaster, was seen behaving aggressively towards a man who was sitting on the ground near the entrance to the Co-op, in Cantley, Doncaster.

Susan Evans, prosecuting, said Pearson was aggressive and shouting and waving a kitchen knife in front of the man and a female kept trying to pull the defendant away before they both left.

Ms Evans said: “The man put his hands up to protect his face and a female kept trying to pull the defendant away and he kept walking back.

She added: “This incident was clearly a frightening one for those in and around the Co-op.”

An off-duty police officer said the incident had been the most shocking thing she has seen, according to Ms Evans.

Pearson, who has previous convictions for drugs and dishonesty, pleaded guilty to affray and to possessing a bladed article in public after the incident on October 15.

Edward Moss, defending, said Pearson has shown remorse and he is now a changed man and who is clean after drugs had played a part in his life for many years and had done so at the time of the offence.

Recorder Darren Preston told Pearson any passerby would have been terrified and the danger for “death or mayhem” was particularly high especially with someone under the influence of drugs.

He sentenced Pearson to 13-months of custody.