Conditional discharge for Cross Hills man who 'took matters into his own hands'

Cameron Foulston, 23, was fed up with what he believed was a lack of action taken by police against comments made to his mother by her own nephew, Sean Brown, heard Skipton magistrates last month.

And after returning home on a Sunday lunchtime in January to find his mother in tears, Foulston armed himself with a metal bar, and together with a friend, went round to his cousin's house in Beanlands Place, Glusburn to challenge him about it.

When he arrived, Mr Brown was waiting for him at the front door with a couple of kitchen knives, which he threw in Foulston's direction. There was a scuffle, and the police were called, but when officers turned up, other members of the family had gone to the house, and Foulston had left.

Foulston, who admitted using threatening, abusive words or behaviour, and the possession of an offensive weapon in a public place on January 28, told police he had 'seen red' after coming home to find his mother shaking and in tears, the court heard.

In mitigation, Mohammed Hussain said there had been issues with the two sides of the family for about three years which had resulted from a comment made by Foulston's mother that had been misinterpreted by Mr Brown.

Comments had been made on social media by Mr Brown and although the police had been notified, the comments kept on being made, said Mr Hussain.

Mr Hussain told the magistrates court that Foulston had lost control after finding his mother so upset. His mother had been very disappointed in what her son had done, believing he had a lot to lose. There had also been a lot of provocation, Foulston was very remorseful and had acted out of character.

Magistrates sent Foulston, of Wheatlands Lane, Cross Hills to Bradford Crown Court for sentencing where on Friday he was handed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.