A CARLISLE restaurant chef who produced two knives while behaving aggressively in front of his boss has been given a suspended jail term.
Paul McManus, 34, was sentenced at the city’s crown court for criminal conduct at Pizza Express, Lowther Street, on the late afternoon of August 1.
McManus turned up for work at 5pm. But concerns were raised that he was drinking potent Buckfast tonic wine while on duty, was “dropping items” and that “pizzas were burnt”.
During a discussion with the restaurant manager, McManus was told to go home. But a short time later, the boss saw him with a Stanley knife in one hand and a butterfly knife in the other. While he did not think he would be assaulted, the manager was scared what argumentative McManus might do if he became more aggressive.
Police arrested McManus in the street and found the two knives in his jacket.
In court today, McManus, of Eldred Street, Carlisle, admitted charges of having a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.
A 12-month jail term was suspended for two years by Judge James Adkin, who ordered McManus to complete an alcohol treatment requirement, 150 hours’ unpaid work and rehabilitation.
