A PENSIONER yelled to a motorist "I'll cut you up" whilst waving a 10-inch hunting knife in a road rage incident.
Robert Eplett, 70, who lives in sheltered housing in Knightswood Court, Steeple Road, Southminster, had an argument with another driver whilst leaving the Promenade Park car park in Maldon on Monday, July 14.
Eplett pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing a knife in a public place and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, which the judge suspended for one year.
A court heard how Eplett was in the car with his daughter at the time of the incident when he tried to get around a car that was blocking his exit, which sparked an argument with the driver of the other car.
As the row escalated, Eplett waved the hunting knife at the occupants of the vehicle shouting "I'll cut you up", Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Tuesday.
On seeing this a passenger from the other vehicle then jumped out of the car, grabbed the knife from Eplett and threw the knife in a bush before calling the police and blocking Eplett's way while he awaited their arrival.
Martin Mulgrew, prosecuting for the crown, told the court: "Mr Eplett was holding a 10-inch hunting knife and said to the gentleman 'I'll cut you up'."
But his defence counsel, Mr Boyce, said that Eplett was only in possession of the knife because he was on a fishing trip a day earlier and had forgotten to put the weapon back in his home.
"He didn't actually leave his motor car and is of mature years. He is in poor health, lives in sheltered accommodation and is very unlikely to go before the court again," said Mr Boyce.
"He was on a fishing trip on the Sunday and this was the Monday and the knife was still in the car."
Whilst sentencing Eplett, His Honour Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC said that the carrying of knives is something that should be "stamped on".
He said: "You got involved in a road rage incident and produced a 10-inch hunting knife to a person who approached you.
"You are a man, now 70 years old, and you have no relevant previous convictions, in poor health, you are aged and a rather ill senior citizen and perpetrated the offence out of the blue when you ought to have known better.
"The carrying of knives in public places is something that is detrimental to the wellbeing of our society and has to be stamped on by punitive sentences."
Eplett was also ordered to pay £100 towards court costs and the court ordered the destruction of the knife in question.
