Pub knifeman in jail let-off

Date published: 02 February 2010

A KNIFEMAN who caused havoc in a pub beer garden escaped jail because a court was told he had been suffering from mental health problems at the time.

Matthew Lorde (23) terrified customers at the Lark Inn, Oldham, last year when he appeared waving a kitchen knife and shouting.

He tried to attack a father and son who had been enjoying a drink together. One of them only escaped serious injury because the other pushed him out of the way.

Nicoletta Amatino, prosecuting, told Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court that Lorde, who pleaded guilty to charges of affray, and being in possession of an offensive weapon, had been heard yelling: “Who wants a go?” and “I’ll take anyone on.”

He staggered into the garden of the pub on Hollins Road, where he lunged at Anthony Shaughnessy, one of the customers. Mr Shaughnessy’s son Brian pushed his father out of the way to prevent him being stabbed.

Lorde, of Rosary Road, Fitton Hill, began stamping his feet and waving the knife which had a 10in blade, then lashed out at Brian, who threw a bottle at him in self defence.

Lorde lunged at him again with the knife, cutting a hole in the sleeve of his T-shirt.

He then punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Lorde was hit over the head with an aluminium garden chair, but ran away after freeing himself.

Steve Sullivan defending, said the offences had been caused by his client’s deteriorating mental health, but he was now receiving treatment to help him.

“He believed these people had been laughing at him and were going to attack him,” he said. “He now knows how wrong he was.”

Sentencing him to a 12-month community and supervision order, Judge Adrian Smith told him: “You can look back now and see just how frightening and dangerous your actions were at the time.”