A man threatened to attack his neighbour "John Wick style" amid a feud regarding his dog.
Christopher Luke called the police and made abusive threats towards his neighbour after his dog was allegedly stolen following a fight last month. During the phone call the 27-year-old referenced the Keanu Reeves film series and said he'd throw his neighbour's body "in the river" if he didn't get his dog back.
Luke, of no fixed address, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court to be sentenced for a charge related to making the menacing call. He had pleaded guilty to the offence.
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The court heard that on April 29, Luke called the police and made a number of threats regarding a neighbour he'd had a fight with while living in Washington.
Gurjot Kaur, prosecuting, said: "He rang the police making a number of threats towards a gentleman involved in an incident regarding the defendant's dog. A number of abusive threats were made to police, saying 'If I don't get my dog back he's going to end up dead. I'm going in John Wick style, I'll throw his dead body in the river - I'm going to kill him'."
The court was told Luke had three previous convictions for four offences, including criminal damage in 2019 and an offence of perverting the course of justice.
In mitigation, a probation report said there had been issues with the neighbour "following a fight" where Luke sustained an injury. The report said Luke's home was then "ransacked" and his dog was taken causing him to take matters into his own hands following grievances with police.
The court heard the threats were not made directly to the neighbour and that he made them "out of anger". It added Luke currently has no fixed address and he has no intention of going back to the previous address.
Charlton Carr, defending, added that police are currently trying to trace Luke's neighbour who is suspected of stealing his dog and assaulting him.
The magistrates' imposed a 12 month community order and ordered Luke to undertake 12 rehabilitation days. He was fined £18 and must pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
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