Former army soldier wanted ‘death by cop’

The court heard how Simon Lorier had got his seven-inch scuba diving knife and then called the police, saying there was an armed man at his property.

When the police arrived they used Tasers, incapacitating spray and batons after Lorier refused to drop the weapon, forcing them to incapacitate him.

Judge Cherry McMillen described the defendant’s behaviour that day as extraordinary.

‘Your manner of dealing with it was wholly wrong, wholly dangerous,’ she said.

She noted the rise in knife crime in the UK and the dangers of carrying a knife in public. ‘It takes but seconds to cause injury, harm or kill another person,’ she said.

The 37-year-old, of La Mienne, 4, Brooklea Crescent, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, admitted carrying an offensive weapon in a public place without a lawful excuse. He was sentenced to five months and two weeks in jail.

The court heard how Lorier had been waiting for several months for mental health care, after being referred by his GP.

But on 1 February he was told mental health services could not help him and he should go back to his GP.

Just after 6pm that day he called the police and said there was a man with a knife at his property. His wife then contacted the police and said while her husband had a knife, officers should not attend as he had a grudge against the police.

When officers arrived, they found Lorier in a parking area and he refused to drop the knife. They deployed Tasers and used the spray and baton strikes. Lorier was taken to hospital and treated for bruising.

He later said he had wanted to have ‘death by cop’. In police interview he has said he had decided to do something drastic in a bid to get the care needed.

Defence advocate Samuel Steel said his client had served in the army and had struggled with mental health problems since. His client had then been waiting for three months for a referral, only to be told he would face another delay.

‘He felt helpless and he felt desperate,’ he said.

‘He thought that this would be the best way to get the help he needs.’

Advocate Steel said the defendant had chosen to stand in the secluded car park to avoid distressing any-one else. He added that his client had not threatened the police and had not heard them telling him to drop the knife.

Lorier had previously driven into a wall in 2013 after drinking and that had resulted in him getting mental health care.

‘This was a cry for help,’ Advocate Steel said.

He said his client had struggled with mental health problems for 15 years. He was now being assessed by mental health services.

Judge Cherry McMillen said she understood that Lorier felt let down by the system.

However that this did not justify his behaviour. She noted that Lorier had chosen to make the false statement to police.

‘[You] chose to use your Scuba diving knife, which was particularly solid, long, with a serrated edge,’ she said.

‘It looks pretty violent to me.’

In sending Lorier to prison, Judge McMillen said it was important the court send out a message that carrying knives was unacceptable.

Health & Social Care have been contacted for comment.