Court hears of machete threat on man

A MAN on his way home from picking up his children from primary school was threatened by a man brandishing a machete, it was alleged today.

Peter Rose was driving home from Heath School, in Bell Lane, Kesgrave, with his wife and two children when a car pulled up in front of him, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

The driver, Michael Vincent, got out of his car, allegedly armed with a machete, and told Mr Rose: "Nobody calls my wife a whore. I'm going to kill you."

Vincent demanded an apology from Mr Rose for earlier calling Vincent's ex-wife a whore during an argument outside the school while they were waiting to pick up their children.

Greg Perrins, prosecuting, said Vincent's ex-wife had shouted "don't do it" to Vincent and the incident had come to an end.

Mr Rose had immediately returned to his car where his wife and children were waiting and dialled 999. After police stopped him, Vincent allegedly showed police a socket set extension bar in a side pocket of his car door and said that this was what they were looking for.

Vincent, 30, of Main Road, Kesgrave, has denied threatening to kill Mr Rose and alternative charges of possessing a machete and a socket set extension bar as offensive weapons.

Giving evidence today Mr Rose said that on September 28 last year he had been waiting in his car while his wife collected their children from school.

He had seen Vincent's ex-wife lose her temper and shout at an elderly man who she felt was taking too long to load his children into his car.

Mr Rose said he told the woman that she ought to learn some patience and she had told him to mind his own business. He also accepted that he called the woman a whore and she told him that she was going to get her husband.

The trial continues.