Two terrified children ‘screamed’ and ‘ran away’ when a man charged into a Bolton street with a knife, as they walked to school.
Abbas Jandaghi got the large knife from his kitchen and ran out into Hillfield Drive, Tonge Moor, before charging towards a parked car, Bolton Crown Court heard.
Prosecution barrister Joshua Bowker told the court that Jandaghi, 58, had the knife above his head in a stabbing motion and repeatedly tried to lunge through the car’s window.
Video footage taken from another nearby car showed Jandaghi and two other men in the street, seemingly having a confrontation.
According to Mr Bowker, a man and his partner had been walking his two children to school at the time of the incident - 8.40am on September 8 2020.
The father of the terrified children called 999 and police attended, before arresting Jandaghi.
In a victim personal statement, the man said that he was concerned for the safety of his partner and children.
He added that one of the children is now fearful of leaving the house and playing with their friends.
The family now also avoid the road when walking to school.
Defence barrister Thomas Worsford said that the incident happened after Jandaghi picked up his friend, named in court as Mr Turner.
Two other people, who Mr Worsford said were drug dealers, got in the car with Mr Turner when Jandaghi picked him up.
Jandaghi later parked his car and briefly left it. When he returned, he discovered that money had been stolen from his wallet.
The car was also filled with smoke and had been ‘hotboxed’ according to Mr Worsford.
Mr Worsford then told the court that Jandaghi was hit with a metal club by one of the men.
“He’s reacted very poorly by going into the house and getting a weapon,” Mr Worsford said.
“The reason he’s got the weapon is that another weapon was used on him by the drug dealers to strike him on the shoulder.”
Mr Worsford said that Jandaghi suffers with PTSD and had not taken his medication on the morning of the incident.
Jandaghi, who has one previous conviction, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of a bladed article.
The Honorary Recorder of Bolton Judge Martin Walsh sentenced Jandaghi to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He said: “[The incident] caused clear distress to members of the public who witnessed it.
“An incident of that sort can easily escalate completely out of control with catastrophic consequences.”
