Man jailed for brandishing samurai sword, court hears

Alan Matthew Stanfield (32) of Cappaghmore Manor, appeared before District Judge Richard Wilson via video link from Maghaberry Prison.

Stanfield was charged with having an offensive weapon, namely a samurai sword, making threats to kill and attempted criminal damage.

The three charges relate to an incident in Coleraine on Monday, January 18.

Court heard that police received a call about a male waving a samurai sword in the Pates Lane area of Coleraine at 11.46am.

When police arrived Stanfield threw the sword into a garden and ran off.

The officers chased him and as they pursued him the defendant made threats to kill against Jason Mann.

Stanfield was caught and arrested, but he continued to struggle with police, banging his head off the window in the police vehicle in an attempt to escape.

The defendant claimed that he had been the victim of an attack, and that he in fact had dis-armed his attackers and taken the sword off them.

Stanfield's solicitor, Garrett Greene, told the court that his client had been the victim of "some form of attack", but said that the parties had in fact reconciled and that Mr Mann had written a letter to court in support of Stanfield.

Mr Greene said Stanfield has difficulties with alcohol and accepted that his behaviour was irresponsible.

District Judge, Richard Wilson, said that as a result of the incident Stanfield was in breach of two suspended sentences for similar offences.

Mr Wilson activated the suspended sentences and ordered Stanfield to serve a 14 month jail term.

He was given a three month prison sentence for possession of an offensive weapon, six months for the threat to kill and a further three months for attempted criminal damage.