Court told how taxi passenger showed seven-inch knife to the driver
A taxi passenger allegedly showed off a seven-inch knife to the driver while heading towards his partner’s home, a court heard today.
Police claimed Paul Telfair, 45, was armed and declared: “This b****** better not have anyone in this house.”
He also produced the blade inside a shop and kneed a PSNI officer called to the scene on Monday evening, a judge was told.
Telfair, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody on charges connected to the incident on the Ballyclare Road in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim.
He is accused of possessing a knife in public, disorderly behaviour, assault on police and criminal damage by spitting inside a PSNI vehicle.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard a taxi driver reported Telfair had the blade when he was collected.
“It is alleged the defendant opened his jacket to show the knife and stated ‘This b*****d better not have anyone in this house’,” an investigating officer said. The alleged outburst was captured on the dashcam footage in the taxi.
A short time later police detained Telfair outside a shop in the Ballyearl area and located a seven-inch blade in nearby plant pots.
One witness claimed he had produced the blade inside the store and showed it to another female customer.
During Telfair’s arrest he shouted racist comments at other members of the public, the court was told. “He struggled violently, spat at police and used his leg/knee to strike an officer in the groin area,” the investigator said.
Bail was opposed amid fears Telfair is likely to re-offend.
“The defendant not only left his address with a knife, he then proceeded to show it to a taxi driver going about his normal business,” the officer added.
“He also stated he was heading to his partner’s house while he was armed with the knife.”
With Telfair described as intoxicated at the time, defence counsel Michael Halleron said he can’t recall the incident.
“Alcohol and drugs were a factor in relation to it,” the barrister acknowledged.
Refusing bail and remanding Telfair in custody until June 24, District Judge Steven Keown ruled that the risks were unmanageable.
He stressed: “The safety of the public is the court’s paramount concern.”