Felixstowe: Judge orders further psychiatric report on man who brandished a kitchen knife and a claw hammer and threatened to slit man’s throat
Ipswich Crown Court - Credit: Archant
A judge has asked for a further psychiatric report to be prepared on a man who brandished a kitchen knife and a claw hammer and threatened to kill someone when he becoming enraged after playing a violent computer game.
Neil Dugdale, of Graham Road, Felixstowe, wielded the weapons in the street outside the home of a friend he had been playing Grand Theft Auto with, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
The 31-year-old, who had consumed four litres of cider, cannabis and anti-depressants, had become involved in an online row with Adam French. The incident occurred at 5.30pm on March 14 when Dugdale made threats to Mr French online telling him he was going to slit his throat, the court heard.
At a previous hearing, prosecutor Charles Falk told the court: “Grand Theft Auto is a game where you drive around taking cars, fighting and killing people.”
He said Mr French was at home in nearby Seaton Road, Felixstowe, which joins on to Graham Road, when Dugdale arrived outside his address.
Dugdale shouted: “I’m going to slit your throat – I’m going to ******* kill you.”
At the time Dugdale was holding a large red-handled kitchen knife and swinging a claw hammer around.
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He was stabbing the knife in the top of the garden fence while shouting at Mr French to come down.
When Mr French’s sister came out, Dugdale smashed the front passenger window of her Renault Clio with the hammer. At an earlier hearing, Mark Holt, for Dugdale, said his client denied that he and Mr French had been playing Grand Theft Auto.
Dugdale claimed he had become angry because he had twice confided in Mr French only for his confidences to have then been betrayed.
Dugdale admitted affray, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon, criminal damage and resisting arrest.
Dugdale was due to be sentenced on Tuesday but Judge David Goodin adjourned the case to allow an additional psychiatric report to be prepared on Dugdale to assess the issue of dangerousness.
Dugdale was remanded in custody and Judge Goodin apologised to him for the further delay in his sentencing hearing but said it was important to get the addendum report.
