An axeman who claimed he feared for his life after receiving transphobic threats from a neighbour phoned police and said he would kill him if they did not come quickly. Matthew Pond began sending racist messages to his landlord stating he would 'hang his father from a tree,' after being bailed for the initial incident.
And in 2018 the same offender racially abused a police officer who had been called to a bonfire party at his mother’s pub, DerbyshireLive reports. Steven Taylor, prosecuting at Derby Crown Court, said the first incident took place in Ilkeston on May 27, last year.
He said police received a phone call from Pond telling them he was outside his address with an axe, making various threats as to what he would do if they did not come. The prosecutor added: "Essentially he was saying he was in fear of violence himself as he had been threatened because he was transgender.
"He said 'send the police now, I am outside my neighbour's house and I am not going to put the axe down until the police get here'. He said 'if my neighbour gets here before the police he will get murdered'."
Police arrived at the scene quickly and saw that Pond had the weapon, which he put down in the middle of the road. He said the defendant was told to get on the floor which he did and was arrested.
In interview, Pond named a neighbour who he said was making transphobic threats towards him describing it as "a hate crime" against him. Mr Taylor said after being released from custody, Pond then began sending his landlord abusive messages, some of which were racist.
Pond blamed the racist outburst on his landlord's refusal to allow him to start preparing and selling food from the kitchen of his rented property. However, the landlord responded that it was against Pond's tenancy agreement, prompting a barrage of 40 messages, including one which said "you don't belong here and you never will".
Mr Taylor said the defendant then went to a convenience shop owned by the landlord and where the victim's father was working. He said when he arrived he began to racially abuse the man and told him he would "hang him from a tree".
Pond, who told the court his full name was Prince Matthew David Pond, admitted to possession of a bladed article and a racially-aggravated public order offence. Judge Jonathan Bennett handed him a 30-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation sessions and 160 hours unpaid work.
He also handed the defendant a 12 month exclusion order and awarded £200 compensation each to the two victims. Digby Johnson, mitigating, said his client was sorry for what he did.
