'I'd do time for both of you' - dad's chilling threats as he held a knife to his son's throat

Preston Crown Court
-Credit: (Image: LancsLive)


A dad held a knife to his son's throat and said he would 'do time for both of you'.

James Cresswell, 49, was at a caravan park in Ulverston when he made the chilling threats to his ex wife and son. On January 9, 2022, he became moody after his wife spoke with their grandchild, who he was not in contact with.

His young adult son left the room but Cresswell took a flick knife and held it towards him. Cresswell's wife heard her ex telling their son: "I'm going to slit your throat. I'd do time for both of you."

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He then calmed down and left to buy cocaine, Tara Riley, prosecuting, told the Preston Crown Court. Cresswell was arrested and bailed with conditions not to contact his wife or son but on April 23, 2022, he sent a text to his ex, saying simply: "You're fucked."

His wife felt instant panic when she received the message, the court heard. Cresswell, of Market Street, Dalton-in-Furness, pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening with a bladed article and witness intimidation.

In a victim impact statement, his wife said she had been with her husband since she was 15 and did not realise how bad the relationship was until it was over. "After it happened I sobbed for hours to my daughter," she said.

She has stopped going places where she fears she may bump into her ex and does not feel she can trust anyone enough to fall in love again, she added.

Her son said: "I am usually someone who forgives easily when people make mistakes. I like to put things behind me and move forward. What happened on January 9 I feel took things a step too far. I fear James may hurt or kill one of us."

Richard Vardon, defending, said Cresswell had an excellent work ethic and had been employed full time since August 2021. He said 30 momnths had passed since the incident and there had been no further problems. His client has now moved on and started a new relationship with a woman who supported him in court.

Sentencing, Recorder David Tempkin KC, said: "Your wife believed you were going to stab her son. The domestic abuse guidelines make it clear that this is more serious than otherwise. You were in drink and drugs when you committed the weapons offences. It was short lived and there was no actual violence. This is a very sad situation because after a very long relationship with your wife - and I have read about your son and daughter, I am going to make a restraining order."

He sentenced Cresswell to 50 weeks suspended for two years with 40 days of rehabilitation activities and 100 hours of unpaid work. He also made a restraining order prohibiting Cresswell from contacting his ex wife or children for five years and ordered him to pay £500 costs.

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