A DAD armed himself with two knives “in a fit of temper” and threw one at a home after men verbally abused his children. 
Ross Collinson, of Eastbrooks Place, Pitsea, avoided jail yesterday at Basildon Crown Court for his involvement in the incident, which also saw a woman throw a bottle at him. 
The court heard that the 36-year-old flew into a rage in the street after his daughters told him that two men had verbally abused them. 
He then armed himself with two knives and stood in the street with the weapons, while two men were “antagonising him” through a window. 

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Prosecuting, Alex Rooke, said: “The incident took place at about 9pm on February 8 in a residential area in Basildon.

“He knocked on the door of one woman and was shouting about sorting it out, but she didn’t know what he was talking about.

“Then he went and armed himself with the knives and another woman came out and confronted him and threw a bottle at him.”

Collinson has a number of previous convictions for offences including criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

Mitigating, Christopher Martin said: “He threw a knife towards a house after two men were antagonising him from a window.

“There was no use of a weapon to inflict violence. He had a traumatic upbring and was born with dislocated hips.

“He was in care from the age of seven on and off and permanently from the age of 11 to 16 when he lived in about 76 different places.

“He has also been a full time carer for his partner who has mental health issues and they have seven children together.”

Judge Andrew Hurst, said: “I am especially concerned that there were a number of other people about and children in the houses too at the time of this incident.There was a lot of commotion and one woman was scared for her life. You must understand that nobody was justified running around the streets with knives regardless of any threats or antagonism.”

He was handed a 20 month prison sentence suspended for two years after being charged with affray and two counts of possession of a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.

The court ruled there was no evidence for the charge of attempt to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm.