Mark Burgess grabbed the 18-inch saw from his van then warned he was going to 'stab' drinkers
An ex-soldier started slashing people with an 18-inch builder’s saw when he could not get a drink at a bar in Cardiff after closing time.
Mark Burgess grabbed the weapon from his van before threatening people who had been drinking in Miss Jones bar in Merthyr Road in Whitchurch on November 6 last year.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court , Judge Jeremy Jenkins described the incident as “frightening”.
The court heard the 35-year-old, from Washford Avenue in Llanrumney , had spent the day of the Wales v Australia autumn international in the city centre.
Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones said the defendant was under the influence of alcohol when he decided to drive his work van home.
He said Burgess stopped off in Whitchurch, parking on double yellow lines, before approaching the Miss Jones bar and restaurant.
The venue was closing and witnesses described the defendant shouting threats and banging on windows when he could not get in.
One witness heard Burgess say he was going to “slash” and “stab” people.
In a subsequent police interview he told officers people coming out of the bar were abusive towards him.
Mr Jones said there was a “verbal altercation”, followed by “pushing and shoving” before the defendant went to get the saw from his van.
The prosecutor said: “It was a builder’s saw – about 18 inches long.”
A nearby CCTV camera captured the incident and Burgess could be seen brandishing the weapon.
Describing the footage, Mr Jones said: “He comes back across the road and can be seen violently swinging the saw, slashing with it.
“People are retreating, trying to avoid being hit.”
The court heard one man suffered a wound to his arm that required four stitches while his girlfriend received cuts to her hands as she tried to stop the assault.
Mr Jones said Burgess went back to his van and drove off with the door open, allegedly bumping into a man who followed him.
The defendant denied dangerous driving and the count will lie on file.
Burgess was arrested and a roadside breath test showed he had 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.
The court heard he had previous convictions for drink driving, drunk and disorderly behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
David Rees, defending, handed the judge an article from WalesOnline about his client’s charity work.
The defendant, who runs his own business, built a portable shelter designed to help homeless people on the streets of Cardiff.
Mr Rees said: “This is something he genuinely feels passionately about.”
The court heard he used to be a soldier and completed tours of Helmand Province in Afghanistan, with a military reference describing him as “selfless and dedicated”.
Mr Rees said: “What triggered his behaviour that night perhaps no one will ever know. The red mist descended.”
The judge made an order for the saw to be destroyed.
He told the defendant: “I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of your actions because you need to be.”
Judge Jenkins added: “You have, to your great credit, been a dedicated soldier and performed your duties admirably.”
Burgess was given a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after admitting drink-driving, making threats with an offensive weapon, and unlawful wounding.
He was disqualified from driving for a year and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work as well as paying £300 towards prosecution costs.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/former-soldier-slashed-people-saw-12507707
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