Kyle Jones (Image: North Wales Police)
Last Updated: 3 minutes ago
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after brandishing a machete at a group of young people in Colwyn Bay, leaving one girl fearing for her life.
Kyle Jones, of no fixed abode, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday where he admitted threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place.
The incident
On the night of February 17, Jones and another man were spotted in the Abergele Road area of Colwyn Bay passing a large blade between them, prosecutor Joseph Lees told the court.
Jones approached a group of youths and spoke to a girl he did not know, asking: “What you saying girl?” When she replied that she had a boyfriend, one of the group asked Jones who he was. He responded: “Watch I’m going to show you I am.”
The pursuit
The group left and made their way to Station Road, but Jones and his accomplice followed them, Mr Lees said. One of the group said “he’s got it” – referring to the machete – and they ran to a nearby shop where a shopkeeper let them in and locked the door.
However, the girl had not made it inside and was left outside, begging to be let in. She could see Jones pull out the knife and wave it around, saying: “I will show you who I am.” She shouted at Jones not to kill her, as she feared for her life and believed he was going to use the blade on her.
Jones and his accomplice then walked off and the group were let out of the shop before heading to the Prince Madoc Pub. The two men turned up again, with Jones once more waving the knife.
Arrest
Council CCTV operators had alerted North Wales Police after spotting two men who appeared to be in possession of a knife on Station Road. Firearms officers were also called, and the pair were detained after a struggle. Jones continued to shout threats after being restrained.
Previous convictions
The court heard Jones had 15 convictions for 39 offences, mainly for theft. He had previously been convicted of threatening with a blade on school premises and received 16 months in custody. He also had a conviction for possession of a blade and offensive weapon in a public place and robbery, for which he received a further 16 months in custody.
Defence and sentencing
Defending, Ryan Rothwell said Jones had entered an early guilty plea. No injury was caused, the blade was not used to inflict violence, and it was not a prolonged pursuit or attack. A report noted Jones had issues including “poor impulse control” and “chronic instability”.
Judge Timothy Petts told Jones: “You are a young man with a bad track record for serious offences particularly a continuing pattern of carrying knives.”
He said the Probation Service had concluded there was nothing they could do to contain his risk in the community and that he posed a “high risk of reoffending.” The judge described Jones’s actions that night as clearly “very threatening and intimidating, waving a large knife around.”
Jones was sentenced to 20 months in prison, with up to half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence. A statutory surcharge was also imposed.
