Dunken body builder threatened minicab driver with machete, Bradford Crown Court toldA DRUNKEN body builder threatened a minicab driver with a machete after mixing steroids and alcohol while out celebrating his mother's birthday.
Ryan Marshall seized the weapon from his garden when he lost his temper after downing 15 pints of beer, spirits and shots, Bradford Crown Court heard.
Marshall, 30, of Kenley Parade, Wibsey, Bradford, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and possession of a bladed article after midnight on January 19.
He was spared an immediate prison sentence after the judge heard he was a family man who had worked hard to set up his own business, and he had drastically reduced his alcohol intake.
Prosecutor Felicity Hemlin told the court today that Marshall got very angry with Habib Ali, of Bank Top Private Hire, when a fellow passenger was sick on the cab door and Mr Ali wanted money to pay to clean the vehicle.
Marshall fetched a two foot long machete and threatened Mr Ali, who locked himself in the cab in terror and summoned help from the police and other cab drivers.
Marshall banged on the vehicle and Mr Ali feared for his life, Miss Hemlin said.
When challenged by another minicab driver, who came to the scene to help Mr Ali, Marshall dropped the weapon.
His barrister, Ken Green, said: "What was meant to be his mother's birthday celebration ended up in disaster as far as the family were concerned."
Marshall had drunk too much and mixed his drinks. A keen member of the gym, he had also been taking steroids at the time.
"He accepts he was completely out of order and went completely over the top," Mr Green said.
"He is a large man and the size of the machete must have increased the fear for those who witnessed this."
Marshall, who served a jail sentence in 2010 for hitting a man on the head with a hammer, with bitterly disappointed with himself.
He had obtained a licence to be a waste carrier and had set up his own business.
He did not take steroids any more and he had cut his alcohol consumption right down.
Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC sentenced Marshall to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 250 hours of unpaid work.
He must pay Mr Ali £1,000 compensation and the costs of the case.
Judge Durham Hall said the court order was more onerous than sending Marshall to jail for a few months.
Although he had "threatened mayhem" with the machete he had not hurt anyone and he had put the weapon down.
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