A man who brandished a knife at another putting him in fear of violence has been handed a suspended jail sentence.
Addressing the 49-year-old, the district judge commented: “You cannot go about threatening other people who are going about their own daily business.”
Wojceich Romanek, of Ryan Road in Mayobridge, appeared for sentencing on common assault and possession of a bladed article in a public place at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on October 10, police received a report of an assault at Ryan Road in Mayobridge.
The injured party stated he had been in his storage unit when this defendant appeared at the entrance.
Romanek asked the male if he was working and he informed him that he had just finished. Following this the defendant raised a knife in his hand, shouting at the injured party: “Get out, get out, get the f*** out.”
The injured party moved to the back of the unit but the defendant continued to shout.
Prosecution stated that the injured party was put in fear of violence and he closed the unit and went back to his car.
Romanek then approached the car shouting in Polish and stating “f*** off” in English.
The defendant was subsequently arrested by police and during a search of his caravan a knife was seized.
Defence barrister Conor Byrne stated that Romanek lived in a caravan on the lot and that “certain individuals” had been attending the area in the early hours in vehicles performing donuts.
He said that his client accepted that he had “overreacted” on this occasion due to the stress the incidents had caused him.
Addressing the knife, Mr Byrne stated that Romanek had been preparing a meal with the knife in his caravan prior to the altercation.
District Judge Bernie Kelly commented: “You cannot go about threatening other people who are going about their own daily business.”
Romanek was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for a period of 18 months.
