A ST Paul's Hostel resident who was working as a chef when he brandished a knife during an argument in the kitchen is now facing a lengthy jail sentence.
Darren Miles, of no fixed abode, became homeless after he lost his place at this hostel due to this offending.
Aziefna Adams, prosecuting, said on Boxing Day last year the 41-year-old had been working in the kitchen.
The prosecutor said Miles was intoxicated and went outside for a cigarette taking a break on his shift but got into an altercation.
Miss Adams said: "He goes into the kitchen and brandishes a large kitchen knife.
"He was saying 'they don't know who they are messing with' and 'they don't know what I'm capable of'."
"Two witnesses said they feared for their safety.
"Stephen Baker [volunteering in the kitchen] told him to put the knife down.
"He managed to disarm him by wrestling him to the ground.
"He [Miles] tried to exit the kitchen into a car park but the door was locked and he never made it out."
The court heard Mr Baker's victim's personal statement in which he said: "I have known Daz for 15 years, he has done a lot of stupid things - this topped anything before."
Miss Adams told magistrates Miles was appearing on videolink to the court because he had recently been convicted for arson with intent to endanger life and was awaiting sentence at Worcester Crown Court.
She added there were a number of similar matters on his record.
Miles, who admitted to the charge of threatening a person with an offensive weapon/bladed article, was represented by Mark Turnbull.
The solicitor told the court Miles had gone outside and had an argument over money before picking up the knife.
Mr Turnbull said some might view that Mr Baker had been brave in managing to disarm the defendant.
He added Miles had been remanded in custody since January.
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After lengthy deliberations, Trevor Burgess, chairman of the magistrates bench, announced the bench had decided their sentencing powers were insufficient to be able to deal with Miles' case.
Mr Burgess told Miles to co-operate with the probation service in the writing of a pre-sentence report ahead of the next hearing of his case, which will take place at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, May 5.
In 2019, Miles told the Worcester News that cooking at St Paul's hostel helped him overcome his drug addiction after he spent his £36,000 inheritance on crack cocaine in six months.
He told us: "I have screwed up half my life and I don’t want to screw the rest of it up."
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