Leicester man convicted after threatening mothers with kitchen knife

Summarised from Leicestershire Live's report · Updated 5 Nov, 18:17 · Archive

A 53-year-old man waved a kitchen knife at mothers whose children were in a paddling pool near his home in Leicester.

John Stapley, 53, waved a kitchen knife at mothers with three children under 10 who were using a paddling pool on a communal lawn outside flats in Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, at about 9.30pm in May. He was complaining about the paddling pool. The women called police and shouted abuse at Stapley, pushing him into bins and disarming him before officers arrived and arrested him.

Stapley appeared at Leicester Crown Court on 5 November after admitting possessing a bladed article in public. It was his third offensive weapon conviction. His barrister said Stapley was single, had worked as a painter and decorator, and was now a full-time carer. He said Stapley, who was on a social worker's support scheme limiting him to £40 a month for food to reduce alcohol consumption, had no convictions before 2024 and was working well on his current order.

Read the report

• Mums disarm Leicester knifeman who confronted them while children played in paddling poolThree children under 10 were there when John Stapley waved a kitchen knife aroundLeicestershire Live · 5 Nov, 13:40

In this story: John Stapley · Leicestershire Police · Leicester Crown Court · Leicester · Rowlatts Hill

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