Bognor man 'threatened neighbours with 5in kitchen knife' in drunken rage

Fifty-seven-year-old Christopher Rosher, of Neville Road in Bognor Regis, was accused of confronting a group of his neighbours with a 5in kitchen knife outside their Neville Road flats on April 10.

Earlier today (July 15), Worthing magistrates heard Rosher appeared on CCTV at 5.57pm on April 10 approaching the group and specifically threatening one member, Andrew Watt.

Rosher was alleged to have threatened 'I'm going to *expletive* have you' and pursued the group as they tried to get back inside their shared accommodation.

Mr Watt 'anticipated serious and immediate violence', the court heard, and took the knife off Rosher - who was described as 'extremely intoxicated' by the prosecution.

As the group fled inside the building and tried to bar the door closed, Rosher was alleged to have pulled the door so violently that he lost his balance, fell backwards and banged his head.

Rosher pleaded not guilty to the charge and insisted the knife left on a wall outside the building was not his and he had 'no idea' where it came from. He did concende he 'had not been coping well' with lockdown.

His solicitor, Christopher Maynard, argued Rosher's case should be heard in front of magistrates, rather than being sent to crown court, in the interests of 'swift justice'.

The coronavirus lockdown has led to a backlog of cases at crown court, he argued, which could see Rosher not appear in court for another 18 months.

Chairman of the bench David Worcester agreed and ordered Rosher to appear in front of magistrates in Worthing on December 4, but warned that if found guilty, he could be sent to crown court for sentencing.

Rosher was released on unconditional bail.