A Portadown man who threatened to harm himself and his family with a nine-inch bread knife has been warned by a judge that if he continues he will not see his thirtieth birthday.
Kyle Elliott, 20, of Clendinning Way, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault on family members at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
It was heard on May 3 police received a call from the defendant’s mother saying he was waiving a nine-inch bread knife saying he was going to harm her and her other son.
She also told police he was threatening to harm himself.
The incident occurred after Elliott was asked to leave the home by his mother, before he pressed his face up against his mother’s causing her fear.
As a result, she locked herself in her bedroom.
Elliott then lifted a nine-inch bread knife and began shouting at his brother.
The defendant threatened to harm himself and others.
He was subsequently arrested and taken to Lurgan Police Station where he told police he had been taking drugs to deal with his problems.
District Judge Bernie Kelly stated the defendant had been suffering from these issues since 2012 when “he was only a child”.
Defence counsel said most of his threats were to himself, adding that he said: “I am going to stab myself and then I am going to kill you”.
Judge Kelly told Elliott his mental health “will not improve if you keep taking drugs”.
Adding: “There is a direct link between mental health and the abuse of drugs”.
The defendant was sentenced to six months in prison with Judge Kelly warning: “If you don’t clean yourself up you will never see your thirtieth birthday”.
