A MAN chased his victim through traffic while brandishing a knife.

Reece Binks chased a man across Passfield Avenue and onto the forecourt of the Monksbrook service station in Eastleigh, a court heard.

His victim had intervened when Binks and Jake Baldacchino hurled abuse at two men in the Co-op store on October 13 last year.

He had been passing by and told them to stop only for Binks to “produce a knife from his bag” and threaten him.

Reece Binks

Reece Binks

The court heard, the man feared what would happen to him when he slipped on a grass verge with Binks in pursuit.

Members of staff called the police and Binks and Baldacchino were arrested later in the day.

According to prosecution barrister, Ed Warren, Binks, 24, was verbally abusive at the conclusion of the police interview.

He was charged with threatening another with an offensive weapon in a public place to which he had pleaded guilty.

Monksbrook service station on Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh

Monksbrook service station on Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh

He pleaded not guilty to affray with the charge lying on his file.

However, he failed to attend court on Monday because of concerns about catching coronavirus.

Binks, of Lawn Road, Eastleigh had also failed to turn up another occasion claiming he didn’t want to move from the prison he was in.

He has previous convictions for the possession of a bladed article, battery and ABH and attempted robbery.

Jake Baldacchino

Jake Baldacchino

Defending, Jamie Gammon said there had been issues with his client’s mental health.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Henry said that his actions must have caused his victim alarm and distress and jailed him for 14 months.

Baldacchino, 26, of Devon Close, Chandler’s Ford was described as “extremely drunk” at the time of the event.

Charged with two accounts of assault and one of public order to which he pleaded guilty, he was previously jailed for 19 weeks.