Knife-man who went on New Year’s Day ‘rampage’ avoids jail

A knife-wielding man who went on a rampage in Sheldon, forcing his way into two houses and holding a terrified woman at knifepoint on New Year’s day, has avoided a jail sentence.

Paranoid schizophrenic Miles Nunes was spotted by a pensioner, standing in his garden, holding a shovel.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court said Brian Harriott, 71, had been at his home in Collingdon Avenue, Sheldon, when he heard a noise outside. He looked out and saw Nunes, who picked up a rock and hurled it through Mr Harriott’s kitchen window. When the pensioner went out to challenge Nunes the defendant punched him in the face before pushing past him and going into the lounge.

Mr Jackson said Nunes took a bread knife from the kitchen and cut his own wrists, he then proceeded to barricade both himself and Mr Harriott into the house saying that the police were coming. He then left, taking the keys to a van parked outside, which he drove for a short distance before crashing into railings. William Stacey saw Nunes, who was blood-stained and still wielding the knife, get out of the vehicle and, to his horror, go into his house where his wife was. The defendant then put a knife to her throat and demanded car keys. Nunes fled from the property and jumped into a car where there was a 13-year-old boy passenger who managed to get out.

Nunes was arrested after police arrived at the scene.

In sentencing him to a two-year community order, Judge Nicholas Webb said he had taken into account that Nunes, 22, of Chester Road, was responding well to treatment for paranoid schizophrenia. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Read the full story here: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/miles-nunes-knife-man-who-went-6790151.