Man jailed after knife incident on night out

Pius Kibathi, had been drinking with friends in Rotherham town centre before he went home and armed himself with the kitchen knives Sheffield Crown Court heard.

He then threw them away and hid behind bushes when the police were called. One man ended up being stabbed during the fracas, but Kibathi was not charged over that.

Instead, the 21-year-old of Eldon Road, Eastwood, Rotherham, admitted possessing the bladed articles in a public place in the early hours of October 1.

Nicholas Neale, prosecuting, said when police arrived to find the injured man they saw bare chested Kibathi chasing another man down the street armed with a knife in each hand.

When interviewed he said he had gone out drinking at 10pm with friends and could not remember anything afterwards. The knives were traced to his house.

The court heard he had received an 18-month detention and training order in February 2006, after stabbing a man in the chest during an argument.

On that occasion he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Stuart Newton, defending, said Kibathi was still a young man and different to the person convicted five years ago.

He urged the court to suspend any jail term and said Kibathi, who lived alone, had worked hard and ordinarily lived a socially useful and respectful life.

But Judge Alan Goldsack said: “There is very great concern at the moment about people taking knives out into the street and using them to threaten other people.

“Those who carry out knives into the street anticipating trouble can only expect immediate custodial sentences.”