Remand prisoner at HMP Preston immediately jailed over his 'high risk to public'
A remand prisoner with a history of bad behaviour in HMP Preston has had his hopes of being freed on a suspended sentence dashed.
A judge at the city’s Crown Court told David Taylor she had no alternative but to send him back to jail after hearing he was considered to be a high risk to the public.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of affray and possessing a bladed article in a public place when he appeared before Recorder Fiona Clancy.
She decided only an immediate prison term was sufficient in the light of his behaviour since being in custody.
She said prison records showed “persistent bad behaviour and threats to staff” while he was inside.
The court was told that Taylor turned up "looking deranged" outside a house in Blackburn where a man was at home with his girlfriend and mother.
CCTV footage showed him hammering on the kitchen window with a large knife and screaming over and over again “get outside”. The man phoned the police and a call handler advised him to lock the doors.
He was told to take his family upstairs and lock themselves in a room while officers could get to the address.
“Whilst he was on the phone to the police he looked out of the kitchen window and said he (Taylor) looked deranged and extremely agitated,” said prosecution barrister Ellie Watson. “He was terrified for himself and the family.”
Police arrived and arrested him. In an interview at the police station he made no comment.
The householder said that the events of that night had left him anxious and he was constantly checking the windows.
Taylor, of Scotland Bank Terrace, Blackburn, had been given a suspended sentence in 2024 for four offences including possession of a bladed article in a public place. When he was arrested for the latest offence that suspended sentence had been activated.
Barrister Thomas Worsfold, for Taylor, said there had not been any intention by his client to cause serious harm with the weapon.
He said he had a diagnosis of ADHD and was impulsive. When put under stress he found it difficult to control his emotions and lashed out.
Recorder Clancy told Taylor that the man in the house had looked out of the window and described him as “looking deranged” holding a large kitchen knife.
“It is absolutely unacceptable, whatever has happened to you in the past. It is no excuse for this behaviour – violent, aggressive and threatening.
“He (the man in the house) felt like his life was at stake, he was absolutely terrified. He was scared for the safety of his family.
“He won’t leave the house because of you. It has had a significant impact on him.”
She added it was felt Taylor was a high risk to the public. And because of his “persistent bad behaviour and threats to staff” while in prison awaiting sentence the only appropriate punishment was immediate custody.
He was sentenced to a total of 18 months. The judge also imposed a restrain order banning him from any contact with the man for the next 10 years.
The knife has been confiscated and will be destroyed.