Drug-user who 'ran at sister with knife' faces jail sentence

A RINGWOOD man who threatened his sister with a knife after drinking and taking drugs faces jail unless his legal team can find him somewhere to live.

Andrew Cooper (22) had lost his accommodation in Normandy Way, St Leonards, since being remanded over a series of offences committed on the same day, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

But Judge Jonathan Fuller noted he had made progress while in prison, as having no access to drugs detoxified his system and he had completed a series of educational courses.

He granted an adjournment until 9th April and told defence barrister Richard Martin that if accommodation was found he could spare his client an immediate spell in custody.

Cooper appeared before the court charged with a number of offences which prosecutor Annie Garvie said happened on 5th January.

The defendant scared a man who had stayed at his house, as well as a civil enforcement officer by showing them he had a knife, she said.

There was also an incident that afternoon in Poole. Cooper, who had taken cocaine, his girlfriend and his sister Shelley had been drinking when he pulled out a knife and ran at his sister after an argument, forcing her to take refuge in a travel agency.

In court Cooper admitted three counts of possessing a blade in public, two counts of common assault and affray.

He denied a charge of making threats to kill, which was accepted by the prosecution and that matter was dropped.

Shelley told the court she no longer wanted any contact with her brother. She said he caused their relationship “irreparable damage” and slammed his attitude and behaviour.

“He is my older brother and knows the battles I have faced in my life,” she said. “He should be my protector and the one to look after me but instead he put my life in danger.”

She acknowledged both of them had been in care and endured “things no-one should have to experience”, but he had left her “scared” and she “lost her trust” in him.