Knifeman who threatened to stab Nottingham shopkeeper 'wants to go back to Bermuda'

A knifeman with a habit of carrying weapons was chased and caught by a group of men who saw him threaten to stab a shopkeeper. Nottingham Crown Court was told how Bermudan national Anthony Williams Jr was then arrested and found with a kitchen knife in his sock and another in his jacket pocket.

Minutes earlier, the 26-year-old had stolen booze from a Carrington store and had been chased by the manager. And moments before his hearing was due to begin this week, he sacked his barrister and represented himself.

Jailing him for a year, Judge James Sampson said: “During the hours of darkness you helped yourself to two baskets of goods and then left the shop without paying. This was noticed by the shop owner and often they would not follow you fearing the consequences of chasing down someone who acted so brazenly.

“But you were chased and you threatened an innocent man. I have seen photos of the knives and they are nasty weapons and they are quite large. Knives kill in this type of situation and that is why we have the sentences we do. You said you had them to protect yourself but this shop worker was no threat to you.

“You have highly relevant previous convictions which aggravate the situation. In mitigation you dispensed of your counsel and chose to represent yourself and in your pre-sentence report there are mental health issues identified and, it appears, substance misuse here.

“You say you would like to get help and that you would like to return to Bermuda where your family are.” Rawaid Javed, prosecuting, said the incident took place shortly after midnight on October 11, this year at the Five Hills Food and Wine store in Mansfield Road, Carrington. He said Williams walked in and helped himself to £83 of alcohol and cleaning products before leaving.

The prosecutor said: “The shopkeeper chased after the defendant and when he got close the defendant said to him ‘I have got a knife and I will stab you’ so the shopkeeper backed away.

“A group of men saw the altercation, chased after the defendant and took him back to the shop where the police were called. He was arrested and searched and two knives were found on him, one in a jacket pocket and the other in a sock." Williams, of no fixed address, was then verbally abusive to the police during his interview, Mr Javed said.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a knife and one count of theft and has seven previous convictions for 11 offences - including having knives in public.

Having dismissed his barrister moments before the hearing began, the defendant represented himself. He unsuccessfully asked the judge to step back from immediate custody saying he “wants the help of the probation service”.