A man is expected to be sentenced later this morning for threatening another with an eight-inch knife.

Jake Parsons, 27, was due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday accused of robbing an ‘unknown person’ of a £20 note in Abingdon on January 7 this year.

When Parsons, of Manor Road, Wantage, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening another with a kitchen knife in Bath Street, prosecutor Harper Marshall told Judge Ian Pringle QC that the Crown would not be pursuing a trial on the robbery allegation.

READ MORE: Jail for plasterer who threatened curry house manager

The judge had earlier questioned the decision to have a trial given that Parsons had admitted the serious weapons offence and there was no complainant giving evidence to the jury.

Told of the decision not to try the robbery charge, Judge Pringle said: “I think that is a very sensible, practical and wise action.”

Parsons was remanded in custody and will be sentenced via video link from HMP Bullingdon this morning.

The judge was told by the defendant’s barrister that a psychiatric report had been uploaded. The prosecution would be asking the judge to consider imposing a criminal behaviour order.

Judge Pringle told Parsons: “You do not need to appear in person, but you will appear over the video link. You will have a chance to speak to your counsel, hopefully before and after that link and we will proceed to sentence tomorrow.”

Read more from this author

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