A man has been jailed for 17 months after threatening to slice a baby in half and decapitate the child's father during a neighbourhood dispute in Cwmbran, South Wales.
Paul Foster, 39, made the chilling threats against a couple living in the same block of flats, Cardiff Crown Court heard. The court was told that after one argument with the mother, Foster said: 'I'm going to slice your baby in half.'
Threats made during arrest
When police arrived to arrest him, Foster began ranting about the woman's partner, claiming the man had been 'intimidating me for months.' He then said: 'One day, I'm going to smash him in the face – I'm going to decapitate him.'
Foster continued: 'Just wait until I'm released – I'm going to go on a killing spree. I'm going to chop his head off.'
Victim impact statement
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the mother said: 'He threatened to smash my partner's brains out of his head. I've felt very tense and nervous since the incident and I haven't been able to sleep. I do believe he would carry out these threats.'
Cardiff Crown Court was told that Foster was already serving a suspended prison sentence for threats to kill, religiously aggravated harassment and criminal damage at the time of the offences.
Defence and sentencing
Jac Brown, defending, said: 'The defendant has deep-seated mental health issues. He suffers from anxiety and paranoia which are exacerbated by his alcohol use. The defendant has become isolated in his personal life.'
Judge Christopher Felstead told Foster he had made 'nasty and unpleasant threats.' Foster was jailed for 17 months and made the subject of five-year restraining orders.
