A PARANOID schizophrenic told a police call handler he would “cut and chop up” his neighbour after he became angry over an investigation into an allegation of assault.

Malachai Clark, 31, of Magdalen Street, Colchester, called the Essex Police control room in April to inquire about an investigation into an assault.

The investigation stemmed from a confrontation between Clark and a neighbour, which Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard was sparked by a noise complaint.

The court was told the neighbour was outside his flat on a communal balcony enjoying a cigarette when he heard shouting coming from Clark’s flat.

He told Clark he was being noisy and “to stop shouting as there are kids around”.

Clark went downstairs from his flat and confronted the neighbour, and following a confrontation punched him in the head repeatedly.

The victim said he was knocked unconscious. Other residents witnessed the confrontation and intervened before the police were called.

The court heard the victim has since felt fearful of leaving his flat and wanted to move away.

In the days following the incident, Clark made a call to the police force control room and became “frustrated” with the allegation.

He told the call handler he would “cut him up and chop him up”, and the handler was so concerned she reported the matter to her supervisor.

Appearing in court on Friday, Clark admitted assault, on the basis he initially acted in self defence before using excessive force, and sending a menacing message by a public communication network.

Levent Kemal, mitigating, said: “Two independent witnesses both say they were effectively goading each other.

“A witness in their own words describes the complainant stumbling into my client.”

Mr Kemal said the medication Clark was taking at the time was not adequate and the call to the police was made during a mental health crisis.

Magistrates put in place a 12 month conditional discharge owing to Clark’s medical circumstances.

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