Norwich man threatened to cut his terrified friend's throat

The woman became friends with 64-year-old Steve Clarke after they met at a pub and he had called round to see her at her Norwich home.

Norwich Crown Court heard Clarke went round with a litre bottle of vodka and was "animated" as they talked and drank together for a couple of hours.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Matthew Edwards, prosecuting, said Clarke suddenly "stood up and got on top of her".

He straddled her, got a lock knife out and held it to her saying he was going to "cut her f*****g throat".

Clarke told her he had been in the army, even though he had not. He said: "I've killed people before, it wouldn't even cross my mind if I killed you.

"I've never been done for it because I've been in the army."

The woman, who was terrified, offered Clarke a drink and he fell asleep shortly after.

Once he was asleep, with his knife next to him, the victim called police and Clarke was arrested.

Clarke, of Station Road, Drayton, appeared at court on Tuesday (September 17) having admitted an offence of threatening with an offensive weapon in a private place on December 14 last year.

Steve Clarke (Image: Norfolk Police) Before he was sentenced the court heard a statement from the victim who was left "scared for my life" and "thought she might die".

Jailing Clarke for 18 months, Judge Katharine Moore said the victim was "completely unable to move" when he took out the blade and threatened her.

She said although short-lived the incident "must have been utterly terrifying, all the more so because it was in her own home".

John Morgans, mitigating, said the incident had been "entirely out of character" for Clarke who had been drinking as well as taking prescription medication.

He was sad his friendship had come to an end "so spectacularly".

Clarke was also made the subject of a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim for the next 10 years.