Judge tells Chesterfield man caught with axe, petrol-filled kettle and lighter in street, “mercifully, nothing happened"

Richard Roskilly, 46, had consumed “large quantities” of alcohol and drugs during the four days preceding the incident, Derby Crown Court heard.

Recorder Adrian Reynolds told Richard Roskilly: “It seems quite clear you were drinking heavily and taking drugs and all of that contributed to a considerable decline in your mental health.”

Roskilly was arrested by armed police officers near his North Wingfield home on March 21.

Minutes before, he himself had reported unknown men inside his home who had stolen his car keys and were now “hanging about in cars”.

While a neighbour reported seeing “a guy with an axe who looks unhinged, staring into properties”.

A prosecutor told Derby Crown Court today (Wednesday) how Roskilly described walking “up and down” his garden in search of the perceived home invaders.

He said: “At which point he picked up the axe from his shed. He reported going back into his house to the kitchen, at which point he was going to boil the kettle to pour boiling water on these men if he needed to.”

However, the court heard after his arrest Roskilly admitted pouring petrol into the kettle but could not recall when he did it.

“Suspected” sugar was also found in the kettle, said the prosecutor. He added: “He stated his intention was to go and stop these males from driving off in his cars.

"He was caught on the path with the axe, kettle and lighter, pacing up and down talking to the hedge as he believed that somebody was in it.”

During a previous hearing Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard how a search of the defendant’s home uncovered cocaine, cannabis and stash of Zopiclone sleeping pills.

Roskilly, of Williamthorpe Road, admitted two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and possession of class A and class B drugs.

He had previous convictions including one for possessing an offensive weapon, however his last offence went back to 1998.

Recorder Reynolds told him: “You obviously weren’t well and were subject to some extremely irrational and delusional beliefs.

"They could have led you into a great deal of trouble but mercifully nothing awful actually happened.”

Roskilly was handed a six-month jail term suspended for two years, 12 rehabilitation activity days and a 60-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.