AN “intoxicated” man who brandished a knife while intimidating two complete strangers in Whitehaven has been jailed.
Carlisle Crown Court heard of Ryan Bennett’s “disgraceful” and bizarre behaviour towards the guest house proprietors outside their Woodhouse Road property on the night of October 18.
Bennett was “aggressive and abusive” to the man and his partner. He damaged their respective vehicles, threw a plant pot through a window of their property and brandished a 10in knife.
As the woman went inside to raise the alarm, she was left shocked as Bennett racially abused her. He then behaved violently and aggressively in custody before providing a bizarre account for his conduct when interviewed.
He was sentenced at the crown court today (WED) having admitted affray, racially aggravated public order, knife possession, criminal damage and violent behaviour in a police station.
Bennett, of Brakeside Gardens, Whitehaven, was said to have been “very ill” on the night having struggled with mental health issues. But Judge James Adkin noted a psychiatrist had concluded the defendant’s psychotic episodes were “precipitated” by his “voluntary intoxication”.
Jailing Bennett for 14 months, Judge Adkin said: “It was a disgraceful and upsetting incident of you engaging in violent, intoxicated behaviour.”
