Former pub manager took a knife out into the street to scare door knockers

Mitchell Linaker pleaded guilty at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to possessing a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority.

The court heard told police he had heard large bangs on his door on separate occasions at his home on Padley Hill in the early hours of October 30.

His wife had looked outside and said she had seen two large men in the alleyway next to his door.

He had taken a kitchen knife out and said: “get away from here.”

The court heard a woman witness told police she had met Linaker earlier that evening walking home and he had asked them if there was a party going on.

They had gone to a boyfriend’s address and Linaker had knocked on their door himself to see if there was a party.

Linaker, 28 a previous manager of the Black Bull pub, had denied this.

District Judge Jonathan Tafte said: “Whatever the causes, people who carry knives have to expect to go to prison.

“There is an epidemic of people carrying knives, usually by young men. When confrontations arise and often turn physical they can result in more serious injuries and death.”

He sentenced Linaker to 16 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months and a 10 week curfew to be monitored electronically and ordered him to pay £85 costs.

The knife was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.