A NORTHWICH man who was spared jail after going on a violent rampage near his grandmother's home is now behind bars after returning to the scene of the crime.

David Wade, of Britannia Road, Cuddington, was handed a 20-month prison sentence on January 19 last year, for five offences, including one count of affray, two of possessing a bladed article, and two of criminal damage.

They all relate to an incident at his grandmother’s house on Beech Road, Runcorn, on November 1, 2021 where armed police restrained him after he threatened neighbours with two knives – one in each hand - and telling family members he would ‘gut them like fish’ if they came nearer.   

However, at the initial sentencing, the judge, Recorder Steven Everett, suspended Wade’s prison sentence for two years, accepting he was having a psychotic episode brought on by not taking his medication. 

But on April 30 this year, Wade broke the terms of the suspended sentence by returning to Beech Road, breaching a restraining order relating to a resident who he threatened during his psychotic episode the previous November. 

Wade, who has 19 convictions for 47 offences, gave a ‘no comment’ interview when police arrested him on May 1 for the breach, but the following day pleaded guilty to it, plus two motoring offences, at Warrington Magistrates Court, where he was bailed for sentencing at Chester Crown Court.

Appearing there on May 30, prosecutor Oliver King told the court the 32-year-old had driven himself to Beech Road in breach of the order with only an expired provisional driving licence, and no insurance.

Defending, Benjamin Ramsey explained all Wade’s previous offending occurred more than 10 years ago, and since then he'd lived a decent and respectable life until his psychotic episode.

Mr Rasmey said Wade suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, multiple personality disorder, and psychosis, and that he was the only point of contact for his grandmother, who is infirm and has dementia.

He added Wade ‘accepts this was a deliberate breach’, but said he'd complied with the order for 15 months, and had completed the 40 hours of rehabilitation the previous judge had ordered. 

Passing sentence, Recorder Peter Horgan said Wade ‘had blatantly disregarded a clear order of the court’, and although he made no attempt to engage with his grandmother’s neighbour, ‘his mere presence in Beech Road was enough to cause her and her husband significant distress’.

Recorder Horgan added how, due to his complex mental health needs, Wade had the full support of the probation service while serving the suspended sentence, including 40 hours of rehabilitation, but he nevertheless failed to keep to the rules imposed on him.

Recorder Horgan added: "You cannot simply be permitted to breach court orders, and you have done so brazenly."

The judge said he no choice but to ‘activate’ the suspended sentence hanging over Wade, but reduced it from 20 months to eight months, which he will serve immediately.

He also added an further eight weeks for breaching the retraining order, which Wade must serve consecutively, taking the total up to 10 months in jail.

He was was also given six points on any future licence for driving without insurance, and a further endorsement for driving without the appropriate licence.