Didcot Man Gets Jail Term for Threatening Mother With Knife

Thomas Chambers lives in Didcot. He returned home on January 22nd and discovered some money was gone from his room. The 36-year-old threatened his mom, Kim, with a kitchen knife because he thought she took the money.

A court hearing happened on February 20th where Recorder Alexander McGregor sentenced Chambers to 10 months in prison. The prosecutor spoke about Mrs. Chambers’ statement, noting she said her son had a bad drinking problem.

She found him drunk outside their house on January 22nd. After going to his room, he came downstairs hours later with a clenched fist and got close to his mother’s face.

Mrs. Chambers said she felt “scared stiff” and tried to calm him. He grabbed a knife and swiped her tea, causing it to spill, before approaching his mother.

She ran upstairs, barricaded herself, and called the police. Chambers’ bail terms prevented her from returning to their home.

Mrs. Chambers feels anxious and can’t sleep well. She wants to go home and misses her normal routine, but also worries about Thomas’ safety.

Chambers’ lawyer said he has autism and suffers from depression and anxiety. She explained that Mrs. Chambers wouldn’t give him a house key and he admits he was drinking.

He wrongly thought his mom took his money and believed violence was the only way. The lawyer apologized for him, acknowledging the serious alarm the incident caused his mother.

Recorder McGregor said her distress was valid, noting that she barricaded herself upstairs. He believed Chambers might use the knife, stating he would have considered a different sentence.

The judge clarified that the sentence would change if they didn’t live together. However, he acknowledged that Chambers had nowhere else to live.