A MAN who flew into a rage and threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit he was living in at Yeovil left his victim fearing for her life.
Matthew Hunniset kicked open a door hitting her in the head and then started slashing at a bathroom door with a knife where the victim had locked herself inside to escape him.
Somerset Magistrates heard that the victim had been left absolutely terrified during the unprovoked attack where the defendant had been drinking heavily.
Hunniset, 23, of Bladen Valley, Briantspuddle, pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Martin by beating her and using or threatening unlawful violence towards another person causing her to fear for her personal safety, namely an affray, when he appeared in the dock at Yeovil.
The court was told that Ms Martin was working as a mental health recovery support worker at a unit in Yeovil where the defendant was resident.
Prosecutor Genna Morgan said she knew the defendant through her job and on that day she called him at 9.50pm to check on him as she was worried that he had not returned.
He called her later to say he had been out with his girlfriend and parents but at 5.15am she was woken by the fire alarm and could see on the CCTV that the defendant had set it off.
“She went out and saw Hunniset sat on the stairs, and he shouted at her ‘get back in the office and don’t phone the police or I will f***ing kill you’”, she said.
“The victim was alarmed and went into the office, but the defendant ran downstairs and kicked the door open, hitting her on the head and causing pain.
“He continued to bang on the door, and she was in fear he would break in and get to her, so she locked herself in the bathroom and called the police.
“The victim felt very scared, and CCTV showed Hunniset slashing at the door with a knife leaving slash marks on it and he then left.”
Ms Martin later told police she had been frightened for her life because he hit her in the head and wanted to kill her, a threat she took seriously.
The court also heard that the defendant had been drinking and was highly intoxicated during the incident which was an aggravating feature.
Defending solicitor Sally Donaldson said that treatment was being provided for the defendant’s mental health difficulties and the case should be put off for further assessment.
The magistrates adjourned proceedings until December 3 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service.
Until then he was released on bail with conditions not to go to Thorne House in Yeovil and not to contact any staff working there.
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