A man was sentenced to 20 months in prison after making threats to burn down his friend’s house with his children inside. James Knight was found by police in a drunken and drugged state, carrying a machete while wandering the streets. Swansea Crown Court heard that Knight had a tumultuous friendship with the victim, marked by both close and strained periods.
The court was told that on September 4, Knight, under the influence of alcohol, threatened to kill a man named Craig Richardson over the phone. Following a series of threatening messages, Knight warned of burning down the house with the man’s family present. Police apprehended Knight in Skewen armed with a machete and in possession of cannabis.
Knight, 35, from Neath, pleaded guilty to making threats, possession of a bladed article, and drug possession. He had prior convictions for various offences, including violence and drug trafficking, with his last conviction in July 2023 for assaulting an emergency worker.
His defence attorney highlighted the fluctuating nature of Knight and Richardson’s friendship, attributing the threats to a strained period. While Knight intended to intimidate, he never meant to carry out the threats. Judge Paul Hobson condemned Knight’s actions as “disturbing” and sentenced him to 20 months in prison, with the possibility of early release on licence.
The court acknowledged Knight’s guilty pleas and offered discounts on his sentence. Knight will serve at least half of his term behind bars before being released back into the community. The judge underscored the severity of Knight’s behaviour, especially while under the influence, calling attention to the potential harm posed to the victim and his family.