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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Carl Eve & Adam May

Man 'strolled into city pub with meat cleaver and knife before threatening staff'

A man walked into a pub carrying a large knife and meat cleaver before threatening staff.

Mark Fitzgerald, of Rendle Street, Stonehouse, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court after an incident at the The Firkin Doghouse in Union Street on May 29 this year.

The 58-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening bar staff at the pub with a large kitchen knife.

He was also seen on CCTV and by witnesses to have been in possession of a meat cleaver.

Fitzgerald entered the pub at around 2pm on that Sunday back in May, and become embroiled in an altercation, the court previously heard.

He appeared at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on July 18 where he pleaded guilty, PlymouthLive reports.

Fitzgerald walked into a pub carrying a large knife and meat cleaver before threatening staff (Devon and Cornwall Police)

The matter was adjourned to Plymouth Crown Court for a hearing in late July, but the case was put back further due to the industrial action by barristers over the legal aid funding dispute with the Government.

At his latest hearing, prosecutor Katie Churcher noted the evidence provided and confirmed that while Fitzgerald clearly made a number of threats with the kitchen knife, the meat cleaver was not brandished.

She said that Fitzgerald admitted he had been drinking, and said that the victim approached him before pushing him in the chest, sparking an altercation.

In mitigation, his advocate Francesca Whebell noted Fitzgerald's ill health, highlighting how he developed seizures and had his medication dosage increased.

It was also noted that he had "stress-related" epilepsy and had lost an eye from a previous car crash. He also had hearing difficulties, and had anxiety when going out in public.

Part of the incident came about because his ex-partner broke her ankle the night before, Ms Whebell explained.

As a result, he went to the venue "to investigate".

Fitzgeralds will be sentenced next year (Devon and Cornwall Police)

At this point, Mr Recorder Simon Levene interrupted the advocate, saying "he could have gone to [the] police", to which Ms Whebell said police did not have any information and Fitzgerald effectively decided to make his own investigations.

Ms Whebell told the court that Fitzgerald "was not looking for confrontation", but she was again interrupted by Mr Recorder Levene who noted her client "went there with weapons".

Mr Recorder Levene said he would defer sentencing until January 13 next year.

He told Fitzgerald to reconsider whether he feels he has a problem with drinking, and urged him to get in touch with the Harbour Centre, noting that Fitzgerald's response to this request would play a part in his sentencing decision.

He released Fitzgerald on conditional bail with the single condition of him not being allowed to enter the Firkin Doghouse on Union Street.

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