A man who threatened a new neighbour as he was moving in - and stabbed a box being carried by his friend - has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Mark Powdrill, 36, admitted causing an affray in a communal area of flats on Butterwick Drive, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, on February 14.
He also admitted possessing a bladed article, a large kitchen knife measuring 30 centimetres.
Powdrill, now of Birds Nest Avenue, New Parks, was given a nine month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision.
Gary Short, prosecuting, said a new resident was moving into a flat close to where the defendant lived and was being assisted by a friend to unload some furniture.
He said: "They noticed the defendant hanging around outside.
"He began arguing with them, shouting and swearing.
"The defendant went off saying 'just wait and see what happens.' "
The complainants were in the new resident's flat when they noticed the defendant in a communal area holding a large kitchen knife.
Mr Short said: "Powdrill lunged towards the resident's friend who was carrying a cardboard box and stabbed it.
"The police then arrived and arrested the defendant in the car park.
"The box had two penetrations from the knife, which was seized from Powdrill's flat.
"He was taken into custody and accepted there had been an argument and portrayed himself as the victim."
Leicester Crown Court was told that Powdrill's criminal record included several public order offences.
Judge Nicholas Dean QC said he accepted the defendant had mental health difficulties and a head injury he suffered several years ago may have affected his behaviour.
He told Powdrill: "You're lucky you didn't cause an injury.
"What you did could have caused serious injury or you could have killed someone.
"If you had, your position would be very different."
He said the supervision element of the suspended sentence was to enable the probation service to oversee mental health assistance he was already voluntarily receiving from a counsellor connected to a charity.
Sally Bamford, mitigating, said it would be helpful for the counsellor to continue making progress with the defendant.
