A MAN from Colwyn Bay who threatened a teenage girl with two knives in Abergele has been spared jail.

David Hanson, 43, of Meirion Gardens, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (August 2).

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a bladed article.

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Prosecuting, Laura Knightly told the court that, on April 22, Hanson was, at the time, living in a flat in Abergele.

That evening, he phoned his mother, suggesting he may self-harm or attempt suicide.

His mother, who said Hanson’s behaviour had become “more erratic” in the past year, told her son he was “clearly drunk”.

At 7pm, he attended his mother’s home and spoke to her, “intoxicated and irate”, and believing that the occupants of another flat had been calling him a paedophile.

Hanson took a large steak knife, and began banging on the door of another flat until it was opened by a 16-year-old girl.

He then confronted her, waving the knife in front of her and saying: “I know it’s you who’s been calling me a n****. I’m not stupid.”

“Drunk” and “unsteady on his feet”, Hanson continued to wave the knife and shouted: “Get out of here now.”

The girl locked the door, but could hear Hanson kicking and banging on it, shouting: “I’m going to get in there.”

A couple of other witnesses wrestled the knife from the defendant, who was then ushered back to his flat by his mother.

Shortly after, though, Hanson returned to the same flat and banged on the door again; this time while carrying a bread knife.

After threatening to “kill everyone”, he banged the knife on a flat window, scratching it.

He later the left the area, before officers arrested him at about 7.30pm and recovered both knives.

Hanson gave no comment when interviewed by police.

In a statement, the girl said the incident made her feel “scared, worried and threatened”.

She said she “didn’t deserve to be treated this way” and had “no idea” why Hanson behaved in such a manner.

Defending Hanson, who had no previous convictions, Simon Killeen described as a man of “good character”, while conceding that this was an “unsavoury” and “unpleasant” incident.

Hanson, who has lived a “rather lonely existence” was said to have taken steps to rehabilitate himself, and is now “in a better place than he was”.

Mr Killeen said he is “making real strides” to overcome his alcoholism, and urged the court to refrain from imposing an immediate custodial sentence upon him.

“He can be helped and punished within the community,” he said.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman also ordered Hanson to complete six months’ alcohol treatment, and 25 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

She told him that he must have “frightened” and “terrified” all of the residents who witnessed this incident.

Judge Saffman said she was unable to issue a restraining order, an “entirely unsatisfactory situation”, she said, given the girl will “inevitably” come into contact with Hanson again.

Hanson must also pay a £187 statutory surcharge, while Judge Saffman ordered the knives seized from him to be forfeited and destroyed.