Neighbour screamed 'I'm a billionaire' after making life hell for woman next door
David Hancock of Beech Walk told police he was "the head of the Freemasons" and a billionaire, a court heard
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A man being arrested for harassing his neighbour in the street told police he was "the head of the Freemasons" and a billionaire, a court has been told.
David Hancock, who had lived in Gipton in Leeds, hurled foul-mouthed abuse at and threatened the woman in June 2022 outside his then-home on Beech Walk.
The woman confronted Hancock at his home, prompting him to call her a "s***" and tell her he was "going to get [her] stabbed up", Deborath Smithies, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court.
Hancock had shouted the vile abuse and threats from his bedroom into the street, and continued to claim that he had won the lottery and his winning ticket was in the window.
David Hancock of Beech Walk told police he was "the head of the Freemasons" and a billionaire, a court heardGoogleBut, upon closer inspection, the "ticket" was a piece of paper with hers and a man's name on it which read: "Public order 6th June 2022 [their names] Asda," Smithies said.
The prosecutor continued: "She asked him to remove that sign. He told her to 'f**k off' and said: 'if you don't get out of my garden I'm going to stab you up.'"
When police were called and Hancock was placed under arrest, Smithies said: "He threatened to get the officers sacked and said he was a billionaire and the head of the Freemasons. In custody, he said, 'If they don't hand themselves in by tonight they are dead'."
A month later, the vile abuse continued; this time, Hancock called his neighbour an "Irish s***" and, once again, threatened to "stab her up".
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Hancock began "hacking up and spitting phlegm into the rear passenger seat of the police car" when cops escorted him from his then-home in Gipton, Leeds Crown Court was told
When the woman's ex-partner arrived, Hancock threatened to shoot him, stab her, and "set about her with a hammer", the court heard.
Smithies said: "The police were called again. She expresses her parents are Irish and she was particularly upset by the term."
Then, on his way to custody, Hancock began "hacking up and spitting phlegm into the rear passenger seat of the police car", Leeds Crown Court was told.
"The car had to be deep cleaned and this left West Yorkshire Police vulnerable to serve the public. They were a vehicle down in circumstances when every vehicle matters," Smithies added.
The court heard how Hancock held previous convictions for criminal damage and breach of a non-molestation order.
On the first day of his trial, he pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, causing fear of violence and criminal damage - though Smithies said there had previously been questions over his ability to make a plea, he was eventually deemed fit.
Matthew Stewart, mitigating, said Hancock had suffered from "serious" mental health issues as detailed in a pre-sentence and psychiatric report.
Stewart added that Hancock's home in Beech Walk had been set on fire and damaged, forcing him to leave. He added: "I don't advance it was her [the victim], but there was clearly an issue."
Recorder Green KC gave Hancock a sentence of 20 weeks, suspended for a year, and ordered he undertake 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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