A MAN threatened to murder his neighbour after suspecting him of “coming on” to his female friend.

Dwayne Henry, 32, grabbed a knife stashed down a sofa at the supported living block where he lived on Bath Road then lobbed a brick through his opponent’s window – striking him in the back of the head.

But Judge Peter Crabtree suspended Henry’s 12 month prison sentence for a year and a half at Swindon Crown Court, noting the defendant experienced mental health issues, the knife had not been brandished and those who witnessed the incident were not caused serious distress.

Henry and his neighbour at the supported living block on Bath Road were said to have argued before the incident on July 14, 2019. The defendant later said he believed the man had been “coming on” to a female friend and was “taking the mickey” out of him.

The victim was in his flat when Henry, who had been drinking and had smoked cannabis, came in uninvited and was asked to leave.

He was back a short time later and told the flat’s occupant: “I’m warning you.” Henry was told to go away. He backed into a kitchen and smashed an egg timer on the floor. He shouted at the other man: “I’m going to stab you, I’m going to kill you.”

Mark Ashley, prosecuting, said Henry went to another neighbour’s flat and retrieved a knife from down the side of a sofa. That came as a shock to the other man, who did not know the knife was there.

He went back to the first flat and punched then threw a brick through the kitchen window, striking the man in the back of the head. Mr Ashley said the victim had been left with cuts: “He was sufficiently scared about the situation that he actually within his own flat took a knife out the kitchen drawer in order to protect himself if that was what was required.”

In the meantime, the occupant of the second flat alerted staff at the supported accommodation about the knifeman and police were called.

Officers arrived to find Henry holding a piece of wood. He put it down but asked the police what would happen if he picked it up again.

Mitigating, Emma Handslip said her client had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was currently working well with the mental health services. Henry was remorseful and had no previous convictions.

Judge Crabtree sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months with a mental health treatment requirement and a drug rehabilitation programme. Henry was ordered to pay £150 compensation for the broken window.

Henry, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to affray and criminal damage.