Man who wielded knife near smokers "went a little bit too far"

Thursday 25 May 2023

A 37-year-old man who brandished a knife in front of a group of smokers near his home has been told he "went a little bit too far" in the Magistrate's Court.

Instead, Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu yesterday bound over Lawrence Angel Zach Alec Millott to be of good behaviour.

The court heard that he lost his temper with restaurant staff from Trésor who gathered in the small courtyard outside his former home in Rue du Croquet, St. Brelade, to smoke.

He had long complained to the manager of the neighbouring restaurant about the smoke created and litter he said was left by restaurant staff during their cigarette breaks, the court was told, and the manager appeared to be sympathetic.

But St. Brelade Centenier Amanda Wright, prosecuting, said that on the morning of 12 March, Millott reacted more aggressively.

She said: "He came out and told them to move away from his home – he was sick of them." 

The court was told that he then went indoors and returned seconds later wielding a knife of roughly eight inches. The Centenier continued: "He said: 'Leave before I do something stupid. If I catch one of you you’ll know about it.'”

She said Millott did not use the knife and had pleaded guilty to the charge of disorderly behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress.

Pictured: Smokers had gathered in the small courtyard outside the defendant's former home in Rue du Croquet, St. Brelade.

The court heard that he had some previous convictions from his time in the UK, but that they dated back almost 20 years and were not for similar offences.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said the "nuisance smoking" had been "an ongoing issue", but conceded: "Mr Millott knows he overreacted. That’s why he has pleaded guilty. It got to the point where his frustration boiled over."

The Advocate added that, as a pastry chef, Millott understood the importance of regular breaks for kitchen workers.

Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu told him: "I can understand the frustration you must have felt. However, you went a little bit too far."

He imposed a six-month binding-over order and said: "I hope we won’t see you back in court again."