Colchester man Gregory Atkins brought machete to a row

Gregory Atkins leapt upon the opportunity to assault his neighbour when he saw him arrive home from work with his girlfriend in Riparian Square, Colchester, a court heard.

Moments later, the 45-year-old then shouted “Allahu Akbar” to another neighbour who confronted him, adding: “You don’t belong here… I’m going to bomb you”.

Appearing before Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, Atkins, of Riparian Square, Colchester, denied possession of a machete, assault and racially aggravated harassment but was found guilty after a trial.

The court heard how Atkins’ aggrievement with his first victim began when he became upset about something the man said to him the day before.

Jailed - Gregory Atkins

Armed with a machete placed in a sheath hanging by his side, Atkins, who has 26 convictions for 67 previous offences, approached the man who told the trial: “I thought he was going to kill me because of what I’ve heard about him”.

Atkins then later told the second neighbour: “I’ll slice your body, I’ll have you killed. I’ve been in prison, I’ll kill you. Frankly, I’ll be done for murder”.

However, Barry Gilbert, mitigating, argued the machete was never actually brandished and so the threat was lessened.

He added his client has completed a personal and social skills course while in prison, of which Atkins produced a certificate for Judge Emma Peters to see.

Scene - Riparian Square, Colchester

But the unimpressed judge slammed the defendant for a “serious evening of threats” made while wearing a dangerous weapon.

“To say they considered you a nightmare neighbour would be something I absolutely understand,” said Judge Peters.

“You had indeed behaving in a way that night that indeed made you one, you were waiting for the first victim to come home from work.

“Not only did you assault him but you also caused great anxiety.”

Atkins was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and had a restraining order imposed upon, banning contact with his victims for five years.