Disabled man jailed over knife terror

A witness waiting to attend at case at Leeds Crown Court was the first to see Alex James Lambert produce a six-inch bladed black-handled kitchen knife from the waistband of his tracksuit as he walked towards the building on October 18 last year.

He held the knife up in his right hand and fearing she was about to be stabbed she ran towards the Headrow in fear for her life and hid behind a wall, Philip Adams prosecuting told the court yesterday.

She alerted Pc Sarah Longley who was also on her way to the court.

Lambert, who suffered from mental problems and is deaf, was still carrying the knife by his side.

Pc Longley told him to put it down, he appeared aware of her but simply walked outside still with the knife. Two other officers in uniform arrived and they approached Lambert.

One, realising he had communication difficulties, indicated to him to drop the knife and even got down on to his knees to show him what they wanted him to do.

When he still did not comply, one officer squirted CS gas at him but that “raised the defendant’s levels of agitation and he ran across the road towards the magistrate’s court,” said Mr Adams.

He was then subdued and taken to hospital for treatment to a shoulder injury and seen by the mental health team who sectioned him to Seacroft Hospital.

The court heard Lambert admitted failing to take his medication but had used amphetamine and cocaine which a psychiatrist assessed had exacerbated his psychosis.

Lambert, 35 of Kelsall Place, Leeds admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Jailing him for two years three months, Judge Tom Bayliss QC said it was a bad offence of its type and with no hospital option there had to be a jail sentence even making every allowance for his mental health and hearing disabilities.