OAP woman usedkitchen knife in neighbour dispute

A PENSIONER has avoided jail after brandishing a knife at her neighbours.
Carol TilleyCarol Tilley
Carol Tilley

Carol Tilley, 68, rowed with her neighbours before going into her home and returning to her doorstep with a rusty carving knife.

The binge-drinking OAP had shouted at Tanya Guest and Brian Gibbs over youngsters playing outside.

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Now she has been handed a six-month prison sentence by Portsmouth magistrates suspended for 18 months.

Tilley, of Haywood Road, Havant, must complete 18 months of supervision and 20 days of rehabilitation activities. Previously Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard how Tilley was a binge-drinker who drank vodka.

In a statement read by prosecutor Graham Heath at the previous hearing, victim Ms Guest said she is on edge and feels she has to protect her sons from Tilley.

‘I don’t feel safe living near her,’ said Ms Guest.

‘She targets the boys. It’s emotionally upsetting – she’s accusing them of things. My boys have disabilities and it upsets them.’

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She added: ‘I can’t afford to move and I like the area and our other neighbours.’

Mr Heath added when Tilley had the knife she said she was ‘going to put it in him’ to Mr Gibbs.

He said: ‘The defendant went into her property and came out with what’s referred to as a large kitchen knife or carving knife and made various threats.’

Tilley admitted possession of a bladed article and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence.

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She was sentenced to six months for the bladed article offence and one month for the second offence, but both will run concurrently.

Sentencing, magistrates said they imposed a custodial sentence due to her use of a knife in dangerous circumstances.

She also told police she was drunk at the time of the incident on April 17.

Magistrates took Tilley’s age, her limited previous convictions, personal circumstances and guilty plea into consideration.

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Tilley must pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

At the previous magistrates’ court hearing Bill Charlton, for Tilley, said: ‘It was unlikely the threat would be carried out.’