Exclusive:'This is so bent': Titchfield man unleashes furious tirade at judge after threatening to kill neighbour
He could still be heard shouting at the top of his lungs after he stormed off to the cells.
A man who threatened to kill his neighbour stormed out of court in a fit of rage - before being thrown in prison.
Mark Hope swore at Judge William Ashworth, then vowed to “make your job easy” as he stomped down to the cells, kicking and slamming objects as he left the dock.
At Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday, October 9, Hope was being sentenced alongside Jade McFarlane, after an incident outside their shared home in Titchfield on July 1 last year. An argument with a neighbour led to both Hope and McFarlane threatening their life, before police arrived on the scene - two of whom were then assaulted by Hope.
McFarlane, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of affray. Hope pleaded guilty to the same charge, plus one count of assault by beating, and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
Matthew Jolliffe, prosecuting, said: “The victim had been out for most of the evening, before she returned home at 1.30am. She was confronted by Hope, who was being verbally abusive, saying she needed to deal with some friends in a silver van outside. She said she didn’t know them, and he became increasingly aggressive.
“At this point, McFarlane emerged from their flat and was also aggressive. She told the neighbour ‘I will f***ing kill you’ and went back into the flat, returning armed with a hammer.
“Hope said to the victim that ‘the last two people who disrespected me are in their graves’. The police were called by several people who witnessed the incident.”
When police arrived, Hope was arrested and put into the back of a police van. He kicked out at one officer, and spat at another, the court was told.
Gaylene Coles, representing the couple, said: “Hope had been waiting with officers for over an hour, when he realised that McFarlane was also being arrested, and their children would be without supervision.
“It’s at this point that he became aggressive - that’s when he was thrown into the back of the police van. He was sprayed because his leg was in the way of the van’s gate, that’s why he was spitting.”
Throughout the hearing, McFarlane had a puzzled look on her face, occasionally scoffing as the facts of the case were read out. Meanwhile, Hope repeatedly laughed, shook his head and smirked throughout the hearing.
But as Judge Ashworth began sentencing, Hope’s smirk was wiped off his face - replaced by blind rage as he stood up and launched into a tirade.
The 38-year-old, who has 43 previous convictions, shouted: “I tell you what, I’ll go down to the f***ing cells myself, make your job easy. See you later mate, you’ve made your point.
“This is all bent, so f***ing bent. What f***ing s***.”
Security officers in the dock followed Hope down to the cells, where he could still be heard shouting and hitting things. Judge Ashworth continued sentencing in his absence, giving him 27 months in prison.
Addressing McFarlane, he said: “You said you wanted to separate from Hope. I’m not going to send you to prison immediately, and will give you a suspended sentence order.
“The reason for this is you have children to look after. I am very concerned about the impact of this relationship on you.”
McFarlane was sentenced to 10 months in custody, suspended for two years. Both defendants were also given a five-year restraining order against their victim.