Mansfield man armed himself with pole to free people 'trapped in their cars'

Police were called to Marston Avenue, Meden Vale, after receiving reports of a man in grey clothing hitting vehicles with an object, at 5.15am, on February 24.

One officer drew his Taser when they saw Daniel Harrison wielding a metal pole and he dropped it, said prosecutor Sanjay Jerath.

Harrison and another man were found in a compound on Pelham Street going through scrap metal on August 9, 2020, the court also heard.

When the yard's owner challenged them, Harrison hurled a plastic bottle at his Jaguar and damaged the paintwork.

Police officers arrived and found a small Stanley knife in his sock and a small quantity of amphetamine.

Harrison told them a 60-year-old man had agreed to pay them £20 each to clean up the yard and claimed he found the blade and put it in his shoe.

Police stopped a Ford Escort that Harrison was driving without insurance on Shilling Road, Mansfield, on February 22, and the next day he failed to appear in court.

The court heard he has five previous convictions for nine offences and was jailed in 2008 for possession of a blade and affray.

"The custody threshold has clearly been passed in my submission," Mr Jerath said.

Colleen Webb, mitigating, the knife was not brandished and the pole was dropped straight away. She said Harrison pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he suffers from psychosis and epilepsy.

Ms Webb said Harrison suffered an episode of poor mental health on February 24.

"He thought people were trapped in their vehicles,” she said. “He was just trying to help. He wasn't on his medication and he tried to deal with it with amphetamine.

"He has been cooperative with the police. He has been in custody for five weeks and is on an even keel. He has had time to sort things out.”

Harrison, 30, of Osmaston Walk, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to possession of a blade and an offensive weapon, possession of a Class B drug, driving without insurance, failing to surrender and criminal damage.

He was jailed for 24 weeks and ordered to pay compensation of £200, a £128 surcharge, and £85 costs.

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