Debtor jailed for 6 months for chasing a bailiff with a knife

[Bailiff Advice]

The following story appears on SCOOP today:

 

 

http://www.scoop.it/t/lacef-news

 

 

 

An angry householder, armed with a knife, chased two court bailiffs down a street whilst threatening to kill them.

 

Arfan Bhatti, 46, who was jailed for six months, was furious when the officials arrived to pursue a £132 debt in relation to a traffic fine from a magistrates court.

 

The bailiffs claim Bhatti chased them for about 100 yards putting them in fear of their lives as he yelled he was going to "stab" and "kill" them.

 

He then went back into his home in Byfield Drive, Wigston, before reappearing without the large kitchen knife to shout and swear at them, as they took refuge in their van.

 

The victims, who had already called for the police, drove away.

 

When arrested he claimed he did not initially realise the two men were court bailiffs.

 

Mr Murphy said the background to the incident related to a £332 fine from Hertfordshire Magistrates, towards which he had already paid £200.

 

A warrant was issued and on March 25 last year the bailiffs arrived at 10am and, despite cars on the driveway, there was no response to their knocking.

 

One of them went to the back door and another went to the kitchen window, where the defendant was seen inside brandishing a large knife – prompting them to flee and one of them dropped his clipboard.

 

Mr Murphy said the victims had told him they were "officers of the court."

 

Bhatti pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and causing an affray.

 

Judge Michael Fowler said: "I accept it wasn't planned, but you responded to those bailiffs carrying out their duty in an unacceptable way.

[Conniff]

Serves him right. Too many people think they can just do whatever they want and not stand up to their responsibilities.

[lookinforinfo]

Whilst I agree that what he did was waaay out of order it is understandable that after paying off two thirds of the debt leaving only £100 or so that the system is so arranged that sending out EAs sends the debt back up higher than before.

 

I think that is really unjust. And not only because it puts him in the same category as those who haven't paid a penny off their debt. It is because a charge of

£235 just to call on a debtor is totally disgraceful and does not even either take into account the debtors means nor [as in this case] the amount of the outstanding debt. The MOJ should be ashamed of themselves.

Yes the EAs are now laughing all the way to the bank because of such easy pickings. Some of them however [as in this case] will reap the whirlwind.

[unclebulgaria67]

Not sure I would want to be an EA, as they will get threatened on a daily basis.

 

The trouble is that the way the EA's act may put some people in a fearful position and they may act as if they are being threatened. Perhaps EA's need to change the way they operate and see if it makes the job safer for them to do.