Mathew James West pleads guilty to kill threat, driving charge
A disqualified driver from Braunstone who made a death threat at a Grafton bottle shop and later went on the run from police by jumping out a window, told a court he’s “doing well”.
Grafton
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A Braunstone man told Grafton Court he’s been “doing well” despite facing charges including making a death threat.
Mathew James West, 42, from Braunstone, entered the Grafton Village Green Bottle Shop despite being banned from the shop - and made a death threat to stunned bottle shop staff as he took off in a taxi after being refused service.
Court documents show West entered the bottle shop between 1.24pm and 1.31pm on March 28 and after he was refused service, got into a waiting taxi, wound down a window and shouted to staff “I’m going to kill you”.
Police records show that afternoon officers went to a residence at Pullen Close, Grafton, to speak with West, who took off out a rear window.
West pleaded guilty in Grafton Court on April 11 to stalk/intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm.
Documents tendered to the court show that West had been banned from the bottle shop due to alleged multiple stealing incidents.
The ban expires on October 1.
West also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.
Submissions to the court show that at 1.20pm on February 19, police saw a driver known to be disqualified, driving a white Hyundai I30 hatchback.
Police followed the car and saw it being reverse parked outside an Oliver Street residence.
Officers stopped their vehicle in front of the Hyundai while activating their lights.
West chose to self-represent in court and requested an adjournment to seek legal advice.
“Other than the fresh charges I’ve been doing well,” West told the court.
He also asked to do the traffic offenders program - again.
Magistrate Kathy Crittenden told West to provide the court with the traffic offenders report and adjourned the matters to May 23.
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