A man threatened his neighbours with a sabre sword and a piece of wood after a dispute over parking escalated out of control.
Cristi Chiriac took exception when another resident on his street in Benwell asked him to move his vehicle from in front of their home and park it outside his own property. A court heard that the request made the 21-year-old see red and he immediately sought to arm himself.
Magistrates were told that Chiriac grabbed a plank of wood from his car and began swinging it at the resident and his brother as they made desperate attempts to push him away. A scuffle broke out and Chiriac was disarmed of the wood but still refused to walk away.
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Prosecutors said he then went back inside his home and pulled out a sabre sword, which he brought into the street and swung at the terrified men while shouting and swearing. Others living on the road eventually came to assist and Chiriac was taken back inside his home address.
Unfortunately for him, the whole incident was captured on CCTV and Chiriac, of Hampstead Road, in Benwell, was arrested. He appeared before Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.
Rehana Haque, prosecuting, said the victim and his brother were returning home on November 5 last year when they noticed Chiriac had parked in front of their home. As he was still on the street, so they asked him to park in front of his own house but he refused and replied with a barrage of abuse, Mrs Haque told the court.
Reading from the victim's statement, Ms Haque continued: "The defendant then brought out an 80cm-long piece of wood. He had it in his right hand and was grabbing it with force and pointing it. He was swinging it at my brother four or five times. They were aggressive and with a lot of force.
"I tried to grab the wood but was unable to, so I began to push at the defendant in self-defence. At some point during this, two females came outside his address. I assumed them to be his mother and sister."
The court heard that Chiriac continued to swing the wood until he dropped it and returned to his car to pick up a charger box, which was thrown around amid the disturbance. Chiriac then disappeared back inside his property. Ms Haque added: "He came back outside the address with a sword in his right hand. It was pointing downwards. It was 1m long with a curved blade and black handle. He began to swing it in the complainant's direction."
Eventually, four more residents on the street came out and ushered Chiriac back into his home, while the victims went to a nearby police station to report what had happened.
Michael Crowe, defending, said Chiriac, who has no past convictions, reacted after being "aggressively" told to move his car. Mr Crowe added: "On this particular day, Mr Chiriac was outside his address having a cigarette on the doorstep. The complainant and is brother, who are neighbours, were upset that a vehicle, which was actually Mr Chiriac's brother's, was parked outside their home, where they wanted to park.
"There's no allocated parking - you park where you can get a space. Although he accepts he's guilty of these offences, Mr Chiriac says there was some provocation. He claims the complainant was aggressive towards him and said "Watch what happens"."
Chiriac, who said the sabre was ornamental and belonged to his late father, was given a 12-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
