Butcher pulls kitchen knife on police outside station

Father of three Simon Hateley phoned from the unmanned Chasetown police station and said he would harm anyone who approached him.

Two officers armed with tasers were sent to deal with him. But as he came out of the station foyer, Hateley drew a six-inch long blade, Stafford crown court heard.

He was told to drop the knife, but the defendant continued to walk towards the officers. When the order was repeated, Hateley said 'why', but did eventually obey. He was then wrestled to the ground and after being arrested said 'I need help'.

Hateley, aged 40, of New Street, Chasetown, who admitted having a blade in a public place, was given 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years with supervision and ordered to pay £250 costs.

Judge Paul Glenn told him: "I have seen a picture of that knife, it's a fearsome-looking article and I know you are a butcher by profession. But you are a hard worker, you have a decent job, a supportive wife and three children.

"Carrying knives often leads to much more serious offences. Your actions on this night plainly caused fear, although I accept you didn't deploy the weapon offensively against the officers. If you mess up the opportunity I'm going to give you, you'll be back before me and I will send you away."

Mr Lee Egan, prosecuting, said the knife incident happened on May 13 this year. The officers who arrested Hateley believed he was intoxicated. The defendant told them he had drunk four pints of cider in a pub and took the knife from his kitchen, but didn't know why he did it.

The court heard that Hateley had previous convictions for violence, including wounding with intent in 2004, when he used a glass as a weapon, and possessing a blade in January 2012.

Mr Darron Whitehead, defending, said it was now up to Hateley to decide whether to comply with requirements. "It's not yet time to give up on him," he said.