I Wouldn't Be So Confident, If I Were You...

At an earlier hearing Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, told the court he had produced a knife from his coat pocket, telling people “I need this for protection”.

She added: “He was asked to leave and he started to live stream himself on Facebook, showing himself walking down Bondgate.

“He brandished a kitchen knife, with a fixed blade in clear view.

“He continued brandishing the knife, saying ‘I have to have the knife to be protected, I’ll kill everyone, I’ll kill you, next time I’m f***ing killing you.’”

He then entered his flat and when police attended refused to leave for about an hour and twenty minutes.

Pretty typical these days.  

Stephen Andrews, who was representing Sardu, said: “The defendant’s position is that he fully accepts that the knife was about his person.”

Given he filmed himself with it and broadcast that imagery to the world, what else could he have done? 

“He fully accepts it was about his person for the purpose of public protection because he himself had been subjected to a violent attack just days before this incident.

Yeah, sure. Was that reported to the police, then? 

“He didn’t actually realise he was committing an offence by having it about his person."

Sure he didn't.  

He added: “Nobody was threatened directly with the blade.”

Everybody was threatened with the blade! Don't these magistrates ever feel like pointing out plain and obvious lies? 

Mr Andrews said he had barricaded himself in his flat because he was confused about the police’s involvement and was living in a "state of fear".

Ahead of sentencing on Thursday, Mr Andrews said of Sardu: "I am absolutely confident you will not see this gentleman again. I can say with confidence he will not commit further offences."

Of course, because who will ever hold you to it? There's going to be no consequences for you if - when! - you're proved wrong, after all... 

Sardu was handed a 12 month community order and a further order was made to destroy the knife. Magistrates told the 42-year-old: "We have taken this route because of your previous good character. This is a serious matter and could have warranted a custodial sentence but we feel this will be more beneficial.

"You won't be going to prison today."

*sighs* But, hold that thought! 

Sardu was also ordered to pay a £95 victim surcharge and costs worth £85. However he raised concerns about how he would be able to pay as he is currently unemployed.

Off to prison then!