A man brandished a knife outside the North Oxford Conservative Club, as a group of teenagers celebrated a 16th birthday inside.

Dayle Hall had grabbed the kitchen knife and returned after he was attacked by two other men outside the Summertown club on March 12 this year.

The 27-year-old was stopped as he tried to get into the venue. Inside, a group of children were celebrating a 16th birthday party.

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The woman who had organised that party told Hall, who had the kitchen knife in his hand, about the celebrations. He replied that he did not care.

Oxford Crown Court heard that none of the youngsters inside the club saw Hall or his weapon.

The police were called and, when they arrived, officers were forced to threaten him with a Taser to get him to comply. The knife was found in his trouser pocket.

Jailing him for eight months, Judge Michael Gledhill QC said: “A very clear message has to go out that if you carry knives in public with the intention of threatening or using them it will be dealt with by way of an immediate prison sentence.”

He added: “Knife crime is, as you are well aware, is regarded by public as a very serious social problem and reflected by parliament saying if you have a conviction for a similar offence you must receive a minimum of at least six months’ imprisonment.

“Well, you are a two-striker, that is the phrase that is used.

“You are now 27 years old and what is very unfortunate in your particular circumstances is the fact that you’ve been out of trouble for a very long time.”

The court heard Hall had one previous conviction for possession of an offensive weapon – a cricket bat – dating back to 2011.

Mitigating, Richard Davies tried to persuade the judge to impose a suspended sentence.

His client was very remorseful for his actions. He had three children and, although he had struggled with alcohol and cannabis abuse in the past, was working with addiction charity Turning Point.

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Hall, of Jackson Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to possession of a bladed article.

Sending him to prison, Judge Gledhill said on Monday: “You armed yourself with a knife. In my view that, when you returned to that club, caused circumstances to arise whereby there was a real risk of substantial disorder; the knife being in full view of anybody who happened to be in the vicinity, you being intoxicated [and] demanding to go in.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward