Man in court on knife charge after family row in Hartlepool over pet cat

Brian Briggs, 52, got in his car and went to confront his partner’s son and their partner after losing his temper during a phone call when he made a thoughtless comment to ‘just kill’ the animal.

Teesside Crown Court heard Briggs had a knife in his car when he went to the family's address in the Oxford Road area of Hartlepool on April 9 this year.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Briggs had been present when his partner had been on the phone to her son talking about vets’ fees.

Ms Masters said: “During the course of the call the defendant made a comment to the extent of ‘just kill it’ which it would appear the complainants took offence to.”

It degenerated into an argument and Briggs got in his car and went round to the family members’ house.

Ms Masters added: “It’s fair to say what took place involved a dispute between them and the defendant accepts by virtue of his pleas that he was present and had within his vehicle a knife which the two complainants would have seen.”

Briggs, 52, admitted having an article with a blade and affray on a basis that he did not take the knife out of the car which he said was there from fixing his exhaust days earlier.

He accepted shouting at the victims and his behaviour would have caused them harassment, alarm or distress.

Robert Mochrie, defending, said Briggs went round with good intentions.

He said: “His concern was for that cat not withstanding the comment he made on the phone. It seems he has taken exception to the treatment of this animal but in doing so has lost his temper.

"It is very much a one-off incident in this man's life.”

Judge Jonathan Carroll told Briggs, of Bangor Close, Middlesbrough, to say sorry to the victims.

"You should be ashamed of yourself,” he said.

Briggs was given four months prison suspended for 12 months, a two-month curfew and told to pay £120 costs.

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