He wanted to go back to prison
Police tracked down a menacing troublemaker, with a worrying history of knife crime, after he warned them in a sinister 999 call that he intended to kill a man with a broken glass bottle – because he “deserved to die”. Serial offender Ricky Johnson had earlier been jailed after a strikingly similar incident in which he suddenly turned nasty and threatened to chop officers up with a knife during a frightening confrontation.
It was all a cynical plan to “escalate” his behaviour to make sure that he got sent back to prison after his previous release, Hull Crown Court heard. Johnson, 28, of Marfleet Lane, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and sending a malicious communication threatening death or serious harm, on October 4.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, said that police went to the Marfleet Lane area at 3pm after Johnson made a 999 call, making it clear that he had broken a glass bottle and threatening to kill a named man, who, he claimed, “deserved to die”. Johnson’s identity was confirmed and a description was provided of him.
He was later found by police and he was searched after he was seen reaching into his pocket. The police handcuffed him. Johnson told them: “It’s in that pocket” – referring to the broken glass bottle.
He told officers: “I’m going to do someone in.” The broken bottle was removed from him. Johnson later told police that he deliberately contacted them with the intention of being arrested so that he could be returned to prison.
He had been homeless for a month and he deliberately escalated his behaviour so that he would be recalled to prison after breaching his licence. He claimed that he intended to stab the other man and kill him because he deserved to die.
Johnson had convictions for 14 previous offences, including possessing a blade in June, October and December last year as well as in April 2014, when he was a youth.
Maya Hanson, mitigating, said that Johnson had been recalled to prison until January next year. His behaviour on the day of the latest incident was simply to bring this about.
“He does express sincere remorse for his actions and the threats that he made,” said Miss Hanson. “He had no intention of carrying out the threat. While in custody, he is back on the straight and narrow.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Johnson: “You made a threat to kill a man and, not only that, you followed it up by arming yourself. You were found in the street with that weapon by the police and you repeated the threats.
“You did not just make the threat. You were in possession of the weapon.” The intended victim of the threats was told about them and he must have been caused serious distress, said Judge Thackray.
Johnson was jailed for one year. At a hearing before Grimsby Crown Court on January 31, it was revealed that police used Tasers on Johnson after he suddenly turned nasty and threatened to chop officers up with a knife during a frightening confrontation.
He had called the police to make the threat from a telephone box on December 17 last year. The incident happened on the same day that he was released from Hull Magistrates’ Court after being given a suspended prison sentence for carrying a knife, the court heard.
He admitted possessing a knife. At the time, it was his fourth conviction for possessing a blade. He also admitted assaulting a police officer and making a menacing and offensive telephone call.
Miss Rapin, prosecuting, told the Grimsby court that day that police received a telephone call from a man in a telephone box in Marfleet Lane, saying that he had a knife and that he wanted to “chop a friend up”. He gave a description of himself and then ended the call.
A short time later, police received another call from Johnson saying that he would “chop up police officers” and he gave them his details and where he was. When armed police arrived, Johnson appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Police deployed Tasers and had a red dot illuminated on Johnson, who then surrendered his knife. As he was arrested, one of the police officers noted that he had a Rosary beaded necklace, which the officer attempted to remove. As he did so, Johnson headbutted him.
Johnson had been jailed that day for 13 months. The sentence included a consecutive three months for breaching the previous suspended sentence.