Man released after stabbing three makes new knife threat

A MAN given a life sentence for stabbing three strangers at a party threated a woman with a carving knife outside a block of flats after returning to the community, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS

(SOUTH WALES POLICE)

Michael Mathews was out of prison on licence when he swung the blade at the woman during the course of an "argument or discussion" between a group of people.

The 56-year-old later tried to run away from police, discarding a large carving knife as he fled on foot.

Swansea Crown Court heard that in 2013 Matthews was given a life sentence with a minimum term of five years for stabbing three members of the same family after bursting into a New Year's Eve party having seemingly gone to the wrong address. He served nine years of that sentence before being released back into the community on a life licence.

Sian Cutter, prosecuting, told the court that on September 22 this year CCTV operators alerted police to an incident involving an unknown male brandishing a knife at the Matthew Street flats in the Dyfatty area of Swansea.

Officers went to the location but the knifeman had left. But based a description of the suspect they were able to find him in nearby High Street.

The court heard Mathews ran off when he saw the officers approaching, discarding a "large carving knife" as he did so. The defendant was chased and caught as he tried to climb over a fence.