Teen threatened men with scythe day after being released on bail

Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from HMP Hindley, where he is serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence after stabbing a man in the Vine Tavern in Thatto Heath, Gareth Parr, now aged 20, was warned by Judge Brian Cummings that he would "end up with a life sentence" if he continued to use weapons.

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, said that at around 7.10pm on March 5 last year, a police officer on patrol saw a group of men fighting in Sherdley Park in St Helens.

One man, later identified as Parr, was armed with what was described as a "curved object" which turned out to be a scythe which he was "swinging in front of him towards the group".

Mr Criddle described how the officer drew his baton and approached Parr shouting "drop it" but he ignored him and continued to move towards the other men. 

The officer sprayed him in the face and he began to retreat as one of the men in the group began swinging a plank of wood while others threw objects at Parr who continued to wave the scythe. 

Parr, aged 18 at the time, was sprayed again as the officer placed himself between him and the group of men before another officer arrived and was able to take down the offender and handcuff him. 

In police interview, Parr, of Gibbons Avenue, Old Eccleston, told officers he had been walking through the park when he found the scythe and picked it up.

He later pleaded guilty to threatening a person with a bladed article.

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Mr Criddle added that Parr had 22 previous convictions for 52 offences including battery, attempted robbery and assaulting emergancy workers. 

Last November, Parr was jailed for an attack in which a man was stabbed and left motionless on the floor of the Vine Tavern in Thatto Heath pub in front of customers.

At the time the judge described the weapon Parr used as “a substantial kitchen knife” and the court heard he regularly carried knives.

Parr was also convicted of a breach of a suspended sentence he had received in June 2022 for throwing urine and faeces at prison officers. He carried out the stabbing at the Vine Tavern during the period of the suspended sentence and committed the offence with the scythe a day after he had been released on bail.

Parr was sentenced to four and a half years for the wounding offence, and also 12 months for the breach of the suspended sentence.

This made a prison term of five and a half years, of which two-thirds must be served in custody.

Parr will now serve an additional 10 months in prison for the scythe incident.

Parr was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

Cheryl Mottram. defending, said of Parr: "He's a young lad in a lot of trouble who has found himself spiralling out of control.

"He has had a very difficult childhood and life up to now and things came to a head when he received that lengthy sentence.

"He tells me he has in fact settled down a lot and is seeking education. In time when he leaves custody he'll have some hope for the future."

Sentencing Parr, Judge Cummings, said: "You have committed some serious offences but you have had a rotten start in life and that is not your fault. 

"I don't want to crush you with an additional heavy sentence.

"You're still only 20 and the rest of your life doesn't have to be like this.

"If you weapons there is a very real chance you will end up with a life sentence."

Judge Cummings added that he would like to pass on a commendation to the police officer involved and praised his bravery.