A MAN from Caernarfon has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to threatening an emergency worker with a knife.

Christopher McArevey, 46, of Hyfrydle, was accused of brandishing a large bread knife in front of Ian Parry, a paramedic, at his home on September 7.

McArevey initially pleaded not guilty on September 9, before changing his plea to guilty on October 17.

At Mold Crown Court today (November 9), he was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The court also ordered McArevey to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and 120 days of alcohol abstinence, which will be monitored.

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Prosecuting, Sion Ap Mihangel told the court of how Parry and a colleague attended McArevey’s home after reports of him overdosing on medicating and attempting to kill himself.

McArevey allowed the paramedics into his home, but was described as being “obnoxious” and “needed to be calmed down”.

It then transpired that Parry had been at school with McArevey’s recently deceased brother; the two commiserated and shook hands.

McArevey went into his room to get changed, and returned with a large bread knife, roughly eight inches in length, which he pointed to within two inches of Parry’s chin.

He said nothing, but Parry asked if he wanted to put it away, fearing he intended to strike him with it.

McArevey appeared “startled, with wide eyes visible shaking”, before slamming the knife into top of a nearby radiator.

He then went back into room, while Parry and his colleague left his home to wait for the police.

When McArevey came outside to apologise, Parry told him to go back into house due to children being in the vicinity.

McArevey then “squared up” to Parry, telling him: “Don’t tell me what to do”.

Parry and his colleague then locked themselves in their ambulance, before the police later arrived, arrested McArevey, and recovered the knife from his property.

No physical injuries were caused, and the knife was not taken outside.

A victim statement from Parry was also read out in court.

Extracts from the statement read: “During the incident, I honestly feared for my life. I feared that I was not going to finish my shift, or go home to my partner.

“I was unable to move from where I was. I had nowhere to go.

“Throughout the incident, I was trying to plan an escape route. However, due to how close the knife was, it wasn’t safe for me to move.

“I have never experience anything of this nature before, and have worked for the ambulance service for over 16 years. I’ve never feared for my safety as much as I did on this day.”

Parry added that he has continued to work since the incident as he doesn’t want to let the health service down.

He was said to have struggled sleeping since the incident, and has been “medically and physically drained”.

Parry also alleged that, following the incident, McArevey said: “Anyone who comes into my house, I will f***ing kill them.”

Defending, Richard Edwards said McArevey is “genuinely devastated by what he did” and wishes to apologise directly to Parry, having written him an as-yet unsent letter.

He said McArevey has recognised that people like Parry “don’t deserve to be threatened when doing the jobs”.

McArevey’s behaviour that day, he said, was fuelled by alcohol and medication, which he had taken to excess.

Edwards also told the court of how McArevey’s long-term partner of 22 years is seriously ill, and has been in and out of hospital, with McArevey her full-time carer.

He added that, when she has been in hospital previously, McArevey “appeared to suffer such problems with others at his address” and has been “unable to cope”.

The council property in which they live has also been adapted to accommodate her health needs.

McArevey was also described as having a “very unhappy” upbringing, and suffered abuse from his father which was said to have had a “long-standing effect on him”.

This was also said to have affected his schooling, and the medication McArevey has been prescribed he relates directly to his upbringing.

McArevey has been in prison before due to robbery and wounding, while other previous convictions include shoplifting, and minor public order and motoring offences.

Edwards added: “This short period on remand awaiting sentence has been an eye-opener for the defendant in many ways

“He has been receiving medication for alcohol withdrawal; he is free of alcohol, and is determind that he will never touch it again.

“This period in custody, he has been concerned that he may not see his partner again, knowing how ill she is

“There is strong personal mitigation, which suggests he demonstrates a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“The defendant has demonstrated, through the taking of his medication, that he is resolved to the fact he will never touch alcohol again.

“That resolve can be tested by the alcohol monitoring tag.”

Sentencing, judge Niclas Parry also ordered that the knife be forfeited and destroyed.

He told McArevey: “Your immediate response to him was to be obnoxious, and emergency workers don’t deserve to go to work and come home either injured or having been terrified.

“You produced a knife which you put to within two inches of his throat; clearly, only a custodial sentence can be justified.

“I accept you are genuinely remorseful, and I bear in mind that the serious offences I referenced were a very long time ago.”