AN ALCOHOLIC left a fellow hostel resident fearing for her safety after he plunged a knife into her door because she did not give him tobacco. 

Jason Charles Atherfold, of no fixed address, was resident at Fellowship House, Green Street, Ryde, when he targeted the woman just after midnight on May 24, a court heard.

Atherfold, 31, who admitted using threatening, abusive, and insulting words and behaviour, to cause harassment, alarm and distress, called her and sounded drunk when he came out of his room, two doors down — asking her if she had any tobacco as she was about to enter her room.

When she said no, he got annoyed and said he did not believe her, before returning to his room.

But about 30 seconds later, Atherfold knocked on her door, she opened it and noticed a knife, with a six-inch blade, stuck in it, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, Newport.

The woman said she became "seriously worried," Mrs Smout added.

In her police statement, the victim explained: "He scared me. I was terrified he was going to stab me. I genuinely believed I was going to be seriously hurt.

"He pulled the knife out of the door and walked off, shouting about the tobacco. He left me terrified in a place in which I reside and in which I have the right to feel safe living there.

"This has left me feeling very vulnerable and distressed. I've not been able to sleep properly since it happened.

"I feel very paranoid and I'm worried about meeting him in the street, or his friends. I cannot stop these thoughts.

"I suffered with my mental health before the incident. Now I'm struggling and cannot cope with basic things, like getting out of bed in the morning or getting dressed." 

Atherfold, who appeared at the hearing from Brighton by video link, told the police the incident had upset him — explaining he had been drinking cider and had been upset by two people who threw bottles at his bedroom window.

He said he was an alcoholic, had been drinking since lunchtime on the day and gets drunk every day.

Atherfold claimed he could not recall speaking to his victim or going to her room, but would black out when he is stressed and under the influence of alcohol.

He said he did not think he put a knife in her door, but accepts if he had done, she would have been scared.

Atherfold conceded his behaviour was "out of order" and offered an apology.

Presiding magistrate, Gordon Cooper, told Atherfold: "We believe the harm caused was extremely high. The fact someone had to go to the doctors for a prescription because they can't sleep, due to the distress caused, is very serious," said Mr Cooper.

Magistrates ordered a report on Atherfold and bailed him to reappear for sentencing on July 1.