Published Date: 08 September 2010
By Russ Newton

A WORRIED dad who told police he would use a knife to mutilate his teenage daughter's boyfriend has escaped a prison sentence.

The judge at Doncaster Crown Court told Robert Brodie she did not think the drunken episode would be repeated.

The 47-year-old was found in possession of a Stanley knife after making phone calls to police in which he threatened to cut the man's penis off, said Corinne Wilson, prosecuting.

Brodie, who pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a bladed article in a public place, was detained and arrested before he could do anything harmful.

The saga began on the evening of May 2 when Brodie, of Victoria Road, Askern, made a 999 call to police saying his 15-year-old daughter was missing "and he would kill the man responsible", said Miss Wilson.
"It was clear to the operator he was in drink but in a further call a

few minutes later he said he would cut the man's penis off and then made a third call.

"He was repeatedly advised about his actions and agreed not to go out," Miss Wilson added.

Brodie's son also dissuaded him from leaving the house but police visited the property to advise him against taking any action.

The officers remained outside the property and a few minutes later he emerged and tried to ride off on a bike but was stopped and searched, with the Stanley knife being found in a pocket.

After his arrest Brodie, a single parent, said he had been most upset and irate but never actually intended to carry out what he said he would do and had no intention of using the knife.

The court heard Brodie had not been in trouble with the law for the past 20 years.

His barrister, Tim Savage, told the court: "It is every parent's nightmare that a girl will be going astray and that's what he was led to believe. He was frustrated and felt impotent that the police were not going to do anything.

"He didn't know where this man was or where to find him. This was a desperate action to force the police to do something."

"He said immediately his feelings had dissipated and he had no intention of taking the law into his own hands."

A combination of alcohol and taking anti-depressants had contributed to the problem.

Judge Jacqueline Davies, sentencing him to a 28-day curfew order from 7.30pm to 6am, said it was a short-lived incident which would not be repeated. "I am not going to deprive you of your liberty because that would be disproportionate to the offence."

Dad's threat to slash teenager's boyfriend