AGXStarseed
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Paul Prince became aggressive over none-existant "banging" from flats below
Paul Prince, 41, of Lodge Lane in Bewsey, Warrington, received a 14-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
An autistic teenage girl was left shaking in fear when a neighbour turned up at her door brandishing an air-rifle.
Convicted burglar Paul Prince became agitated after hearing noises in his head, which he blamed on his downstairs neighbours.
Prince, now of Lodge Lane in Bewsey, Warrington, knocked on the door of the “vulnerable” 18-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, holding a .22 calibre air-rifle.
But the 41-year-old was spared jail at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told the court: “This case involves a vulnerable victim who has autism. This was her first home on her own living away from her family.”
Mr Hopkins said on the evening of January 16 this year the victim heard shouting and screaming from Prince’s flat, which he shared with his mother.
The court heard the victim felt afraid and called her mother to collect her.
Mr Hopkins said: “Her mother arrived and they began getting her things together. But they heard the defendant shout; ‘Mum, can you hear that banging? It’s them downstairs’.”
The victim phoned another neighbour, Marika Jarumczuk, and asked her to come to her flat.
Prince was then heard shouting ‘it’s her f****** banging, it’s her downstairs.
Mr Hopkins told the court: “In (the victim’s) mother’s opinion he sounded deranged, there was in fact no banging, and there was no noise.”
Ms Jarumczuk arrived in the flat, and described all three women “whispering” to avoid angering Prince.
The court heard Prince then came down the stairs and knocked on the door, leaving the victim and her mother “shaking” in terror according to Ms Jarumczuk.
Mr Hopkins said: “She looked through the spyhole and said ‘it’s Marika’. She noticed he was holding a big gun which he was pointing towards her. At that point she was afraid. The defendant said; ‘If I hear any more banging or music from in there then God help you.’ When she told (the victim) and her mother he had a gun she says they went to pieces.
“The victim had a panic attack and felt if she went outside she would be shot.”
Police were called and Prince, who was jailed for three years in 2008 after injuring the resident of a flat with a knife during a burglary, was arrested.
The court heard the victim was left “traumatised” by the incident and moved back home, telling police she suffered “flashbacks” due to the incident.
Paul Treble, defending, said his client immediately pointed out the air-rifle when officers arrived.
He said: “This must have been a very terrifying incident for all the ladies concerned. One thing the defendant did not appreciate was the amount of fear he caused; they were behind a door and he could not see them.”
Judge David Aubrey, QC, passing sentence, said the short duration of the incident, the defendant’s remorse and the fact he did not realise his victim’s vulnerability meant he could suspend the prison sentence.
He said: “In my assessment, you are a very simple man.”
Prince was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation course with the Probation Service.
Source: Women 'shook in fear' as rifle-wielding neighbour banged on flat door
Paul Prince became aggressive over none-existant "banging" from flats below
Paul Prince, 41, of Lodge Lane in Bewsey, Warrington, received a 14-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
An autistic teenage girl was left shaking in fear when a neighbour turned up at her door brandishing an air-rifle.
Convicted burglar Paul Prince became agitated after hearing noises in his head, which he blamed on his downstairs neighbours.
Prince, now of Lodge Lane in Bewsey, Warrington, knocked on the door of the “vulnerable” 18-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, holding a .22 calibre air-rifle.
But the 41-year-old was spared jail at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told the court: “This case involves a vulnerable victim who has autism. This was her first home on her own living away from her family.”
Mr Hopkins said on the evening of January 16 this year the victim heard shouting and screaming from Prince’s flat, which he shared with his mother.
The court heard the victim felt afraid and called her mother to collect her.
Mr Hopkins said: “Her mother arrived and they began getting her things together. But they heard the defendant shout; ‘Mum, can you hear that banging? It’s them downstairs’.”
The victim phoned another neighbour, Marika Jarumczuk, and asked her to come to her flat.
Prince was then heard shouting ‘it’s her f****** banging, it’s her downstairs.
Mr Hopkins told the court: “In (the victim’s) mother’s opinion he sounded deranged, there was in fact no banging, and there was no noise.”
Ms Jarumczuk arrived in the flat, and described all three women “whispering” to avoid angering Prince.
The court heard Prince then came down the stairs and knocked on the door, leaving the victim and her mother “shaking” in terror according to Ms Jarumczuk.
Mr Hopkins said: “She looked through the spyhole and said ‘it’s Marika’. She noticed he was holding a big gun which he was pointing towards her. At that point she was afraid. The defendant said; ‘If I hear any more banging or music from in there then God help you.’ When she told (the victim) and her mother he had a gun she says they went to pieces.
“The victim had a panic attack and felt if she went outside she would be shot.”
Police were called and Prince, who was jailed for three years in 2008 after injuring the resident of a flat with a knife during a burglary, was arrested.
The court heard the victim was left “traumatised” by the incident and moved back home, telling police she suffered “flashbacks” due to the incident.
Paul Treble, defending, said his client immediately pointed out the air-rifle when officers arrived.
He said: “This must have been a very terrifying incident for all the ladies concerned. One thing the defendant did not appreciate was the amount of fear he caused; they were behind a door and he could not see them.”
Judge David Aubrey, QC, passing sentence, said the short duration of the incident, the defendant’s remorse and the fact he did not realise his victim’s vulnerability meant he could suspend the prison sentence.
He said: “In my assessment, you are a very simple man.”
Prince was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation course with the Probation Service.
Source: Women 'shook in fear' as rifle-wielding neighbour banged on flat door
