Jail for man who threatened to cut off his cousin's head with a sword
A man who threatened to cut off his cousin's head with a sword and dump it in a canal while he was high on drink and drugs has been jailed for eight months.
Jamie McKenzie took his mother's Vauxhall Astra and drove to his cousin's Smethwick home - despite being banned from getting behind the wheel.
And when he got to his relative's home in Draycott Road on October 5, the 27-year-old attempted to use drugs inside the house before being ordered out by his cousin, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
But McKenzie returned moments later with an 18 inch sword and held it to his cousin's neck.
Miss Alka Brigue, prosecuting, told the court: "He (McKenzie) was seen walking over to the Vauxhall Astra and removing a sword before returning to the property.
"He knocked the door and his cousin opened it.
"The defendant was being aggressive and said he thought the victim had been looking down his nose at him. He placed the blade, which was 18 inches long, against his cousin's neck.
"The victim said he thought he would be stabbed.
"The defendant then said he would cut off his head and dump it in the canal and then dump the body elsewhere. He kept repeating he wasn't scared to go to jail as he had been there six times before."
McKenzie eventually returned the Vauxhall Astra but in the process assaulted a neighbour, who had seen what had happened, by shoving them in the chest twice.
He was arrested and when breathalysed by police recorded 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - more than twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes. He gave a no comment interview to police.
McKenzie of Woodland Street, Smethwick, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, possession of class A drugs cocaine and assault.
He also admitted taking a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified and driving with excess alcohol.
Defending McKenzie, Mr Gary Cook said: "These were reckless and foolish acts by Mr Mckenzie and they could have had much serious consequences.
"He pleaded guilty and did so at the first available opportunity. He has been frank in his admissions to the probation service and makes no attempts to shift the blame onto anyone else."
Judge Peter Barrie jailed McKenzie for total of eight months for all offences. He also banned him from driving for 18 months.
