A HEREFORD man who threatened two police officers with a knife has been handed a three-year criminal behaviour order.

Officers were called to Hope Scott House, on Roman Road, on November 4, where Robert Butler, 37, was staying following reports he was drunk and holding a large knife which he waved around and threatened police with.

He was eventually disarmed after attempts to calm him down failed. Noone was injured.

Butler appeared before Hereford Magistrates Court pleading guilty to assaulting both officers by threatening them with the knife.

The court issued a threeyear criminal behaviour order.

Butler has an offending history going back to 2002 with the majority occurring after he had been drinking and mainly involves public order charges.

The order prevents him from behaving in such a way that will cause, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person in a public place, or a place to which the public has access, which includes but is not restricted to; shouting, swearing or other disorderly behaviour whether drunk or not.

This is the second such order issued against Butler Robert Butler, who has received a CBO since 2013, with the earlier order expiring in August this year.

Jim Mooney, police harm reduction co-ordinator for West Mercia Police, said: “It is unfortunate that Butler has failed to learn the lessons learnt as part of the previous court order issued against him.

“His offending history is nothing to be proud of, and shows that he persists to act in [an] anti-social manner that cause alarm, distress or harassment to members of our communities.

“This order will go a long way to control his conduct wherever he is.

“Whilst the court did not make an order for him to seek help, it is understood he is actually doing this on his own initiative with a local alcohol and drug dependency service.

“We hope that he does get the help he needs.”