Drunk man threatened to knife his love rival (From Worcester News)

Drunk man threatened to knife his love rival

10:30pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

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A DRUNK man threatened to knife his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in the face during a jealous rage.

Matthew Martindale, of Queen Street, Droitwich, admitted two public order offences and possession of a knife in public when he appeared before a district judge at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The 26-year-old, who has 58 previous convictions, committed all three offences on Tuesday, June 30.

Marie Watton, prosecuting, said Martindale has been in a relationship with Yvette Beasant for four years which had ended but he continued to try to contact her, leading to a harassment warning a day before his arrest.

Martindale entered the Star and Garter pub in Droitwich, demanding that the barmaids tell him where his ex-girlfriend was.

He then found her sitting in the pub with her new boyfriend, John Pritchard.

Miss Watton said Martindale swore and shouted “what are you doing with my missus?”

But he calmed down and spoke to them then left the pub, returning at 7.15pm the same evening to find they were no longer there.

Miss Watton added: “He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and asked where Miss Beasant and Mr Pritchard were. He drew a knife from his right trouser pocket and said, ‘If he had been here I would stab him in the face’, making a forward thrusting motion with the knife. He said, ‘The next time I see Pritch, he’s dead’.”

He then visited Richmond Guest House in Ombersley Street, Droitwich, still looking for Miss Beasant and holding the four-inch blade towards the chest of a female resident, demanding to know where she was.

Miss Watton said: “He said, ‘Where’s Yvette? Get her out here’. She was terrified. She thought he would use the knife on her.”

When he was arrested that same evening on Droitwich High Street, Miss Watton said he was verbally abusive towards police officers.

Andrew Childs, defending, said former heroin addict Martindale was surprised his girlfriend did not contact him after she was released from prison.

Mr Childs said: “He felt it was strange she hadn’t left him some kind of message. He got wound-up about that. He desired some private time with his partner or ex-partner and spent the time trying to contact her, intermittently drinking alcohol.

“By the evening he was much the worse for alcohol. He is generally speaking a mild-mannered man but was fortified by drink.

“The knife was picked up because she was with some other men in the pub.

“That caused him to be jealous. He believed they might use violence towards him.”

Judge Bruce Morgan said he did not have sufficient powers to deal with the case in the magistrates court and Martindale was ordered to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, July 31.