By David Powell

Copyright dailypost

A man with a “big problem with foreigners” verbally abused a family in a North Wales park before pulling out a knife. He also punched a Good Samaritan who intervened, and bit a police officer’s fingers.

During the incident at the Shotton playground, Stephen Mullins also declared “Tommy Robinson would be ashamed” when referencing immigration into the UK.

The 33-year-old, of Salisbury Street, Shotton, was jailed today for a total of two years and three months for affray, assault and from a suspended sentence. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

Prosecutor Amy Edwards told Mold Crown Court that at about 6pm on August 21 a man was with his friend and their children in the park.

Mullins asked them: “Where are you from? Poland?.” The group said yes, the court heard. Mullins said: “Take your children and f*** off to your own country.”

Ms Edwards said Mullins stumbled and fell over. He then produced a knife from the right pocket of his shorts and was shouting: “I’m going to kill you.”

Residents nearby started to record the incident. Bystander Robert Taylor – whom the judge said was a “Good Samaritan” – told Mullins repeatedly to put down the knife.

Eventually, Mullins went to shake hands with people but they refused. Mullins became aggressive and said “Tommy Robinson would be ashamed” in reference to immigration.

Then he lunged at Mr Taylor and punched him to the right temple. Police arrived but Mullins resisted.

As he was being handcuffed, he bit an officer’s fingers. In a police interview the defendant displayed “entrenched” views.

He said: “Polish people are foreigners (and) he has a big problem with them and other foreigners.”

He also said: “Nobody is doing anything about it” and he “has to do something defend this country”.

Oliver King, defending, said on the morning of the incident Mullins had been told his uncle, with whom he was close, had died, while his dad was already terminally ill with end stage liver failure.

Mr King said: “This sent him over the edge. He decided not to go to work and to take alcohol in a way to numb the pain and hurt he was feeling.”

He had been abstaining from alcohol so the effects were “rapid”, leaving him “drunk and angry”. Mr King said it had been a “nasty and spiteful” incident and the defendant apologises.

He has been struggling on remand at HMP Berwyn. He is missing his family and there aren’t enough pillows to sleep on.

The judge His Honour Nicola Jones said the offences in the presence of children had caused onlookers serious fear. On assaulting the officer she added: “Members of the police have a difficult enough job without facing violence and abuse when they are protecting the public as part of their public service.”

She jailed him for two years for affray and two months for assaulting the officer. They offences were committed in breach of a previous sentence so one month of that suspended sentence was also activated.

The judge also imposed a concurrent, 16-month jail term for possession of a knife in a public place.

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