Jail for knife wielding drunk who threatened postman in Churchdown
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A KNIFE-WIELDING drunk who threatened a postman and grabbed the throat of a shop worker has been jailed.
Peter Chaloner has been put behind bars for 14 months as his victim, postman Steve Voyce, relived the "terrifying" ordeal when he was confronted on his daily rounds in Churchdown.
Chaloner, of St John's Avenue in the village, was sentenced for wielding the carving knife, threatening behaviour, common assault and possession of cannabis at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Voyce, who has been a postal worker for 15 years, said: "I was just doing my normal round when he started shouting at me.
"He reappeared with the carving knife and me and a witness took refuge in the nearby doctor's surgery.
"The surgery door was locked behind us when staff used the emergency button, but he turned up, looking through the glass with the knife in his hand. It was terrifying.
"I ran up the stairs screaming. It isn't the sort of thing you expect to happen on your post round.
"I have been chased by dogs before but never by a man wielding a huge knife. I welcome the sentence."
But Mr Voyce wasn't the only victim. On the same day, on February 7, the 43-year-old attacked a manager at the Co-op store in St John's Avenue, grabbing the man around the neck.
He had previously been barred from the shop.
It emerged in court that Chaloner had battled with drink and drug misuse for 30 years.
Judge Jamie Tabor QC, handing down the sentence, said: "This is not a man suffering mental illness but rather a man with a problem with alcohol.
"You said you were going to get a knife and that is what you did.
"These were ordinary people going about their daily business and they were harassed by you in a frightening way. Any drunk wandering around with a carving knife is dangerous whether you intend to use it or not."
