‘Selfish’ son pulls machete from under bed and threatens mam for ‘invading his space’

An “aggressive” drugged-up son wielded a machete in his bedroom, threatening his mam after an all-day booze sesh.

Matthew Jones plucked the 12-inch weapon from underneath his bed after he claimed his mother was “invading his space” when he returned to her Stockton home at 11pm. “I’ll stab anyone who stands in my way,” the “selfish” 27-year-old threatened.

Jones, of Rimswell Road, Fairfield, Stockton, admitted ‘drinking all day and taking 4g of cocaine’ before the incident on November 16, last year. Prosecutor Emma Atkinson told Teesside Crown Court how the complainant is Jones’ mam.

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The defendant had lived with her for 18 months and she felt he had ‘taken advantage’ as he didn’t help around the house. Jones had taken a few jobs over that time – but they were ‘few and far between’.

His mother described Jones as having a ‘bad attitude and selfish’. The court also heard that she believed he was taking drugs at the time he was living with her.

Ms Atkinson stated that around 11pm on November 16, the woman challenged Jones when he came home as she believed he was intoxicated. Jones told her to ‘get out of his room and she was invading his space’.

Jones became aggressive and pulled out a ‘12-inch machete with a yellow handle’. He was ‘waving it around’ and threatening his mother.

“I’ll stab anyone who stands in my way,” he said. The woman’s daughter attended the property the following day and they pinned Jones down in order to remove the machete from under his bed.

The women took the weapon to the police station and Jones was arrested. He denied waving the machete around but said he had been ‘drinking all day and took 4g of cocaine’.

Jones also admitted keeping the weapon under his bed. Ms Atkinson added that Jones has one conviction for two offences which both involved his mother.

Jones initially denied ‘unlawfully and intentionally’ threatening his mother with a machete at Teesside Magistrates’ Court. However, he later pleaded guilty to the offence at Teesside Crown Court. He appeared in court on Thursday for sentencing.

Nikki Horton, mitigating, described Jones’ relationship with her mother as ‘fraught’ but stated it had been resolved as he no longer lives with her. Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, stated that the incident was ‘worrying’ and ‘frightening’ for Jones’ mother.

Judge Watson concluded that Jones was ‘waving around the foot-long machete’ and it was a ‘miracle that nobody was hurt’. Jones was handed an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He must also complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 60-day alcohol abstinence requirement.

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