Man jailed for running at lad, 13, with a knife in ex partner’s Lincoln home

A man left a 13-year-old boy in a state of fear when he ran at the lad while armed with a knife, Lincoln Crown Court was told today (Fri).

Nathan Hester carried out the offence when he turned up at his ex-partner’s home in the early hours despite being under a court order not to contact her.

Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, said that Hester’s former partner Tiffany Taylor was asleep on the sofa at her flat in Sandford Green, Lincoln, when she was woken by a friend who told her that someone was in the kitchen.

Mr Dee said: “She got up and then saw Hester come out of the kitchen holding a knife. He saw the 13-year-old and ran at him with the knife.”

The prosecutor said that Hester stopped when he realised the boy was not the person he believed him to be.

He then sat down on the sofa and was asked to leave.

Hester left taking the knife with him but Ms Taylor had pressed a panic alarm to alert police.

Officers arrived and after a search of the area they detained Hester on Newark Road.

Mr Dee told the court that the incident was the second time within a fortnight that Hester had breached a restraining order which banned him from contacting Ms Taylor and from visiting her home.

The previous incident occurred when Hester called at Ms Taylor’s home just before 2am on July 21.

Hester said he wanted to speak to her. She rang 999 but before police arrived he went into the kitchen and took out several knives.

He said he would wait outside and stab police when they arrived

Mr Dee said: “He was there for 10 minutes. He left taking one or two knives with him.

“The police saw him nearby. He was arrested. He was obstructive to the police and clearly in a very agitated state.”

Hester, 21, of St Catherine’s, Lincoln, admitted breach of a restraining order on July 21 and July 30.

He also admitted charges of affray, common assault and possession of a knife on July 30. He was jailed for a total of 14 months and was given a new three year restraining order banning him from contacting Tiffany Taylor.

Judge Simon Hirst told him: “You ran at the boy who was 13. You have the knife in your hand when you ran at him. It must have been terrifying for him and the others in the house.

“This is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be imposed.”

George Wills, in mitigation, said Hester accepted that his behaviour on both occasions was wholly unacceptable.

“He clearly was not thinking appropriately at the time. He describes it as seeing red and acting on impulse.”

Mr Wills said Hester had a difficult start in life and had mental health issues including anxiety and depression.