Angry weed smoker threatened to kill epileptic Leeds neighbour who 'grassed' on him
He told him he hoped his next seizure killed him
A furious cannabis smoker threatened to kill his neighbour in a shared house after the man spoke to the property’s housing manager about the drug use.
Ashley Grimstead, who has a history of violence, called him a “grass” and made threats to slit the man’s throat, then said he hoped his epilepsy killed him.
Grimstead was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week.
Prosecutor Charles Creasey said 46-year-old Grimstead had been living at the multiple-occupancy home on Ivy Crescent, East End Park.
On January 7, 2025, a call was made to the police by Grimstead’s terrified house neighbour.
The man had confronted Grimstead about him smoking cannabis in the property. He had also called the housing manager, to which Grimstead became angry.
He made the threats and the man was so afraid he barricaded himself in his room.
Grimstead was arrested and interviewed and denied making threats to kill but conceded making comments out of anger.
Appearing in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, he admitted charges of threats to kill and failing to surrender to custody.
He has six previous convictions for nine offences, and in 2023 was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, for two counts of ABH.
He was in breach of that sentence.
Mitigating, Mark Savage said Grimstead was “enjoying being drug free” while in prison, had taken drug-awareness courses and was in touch with Narcotics Anonymous and Turning Point.
He said he was making progress and wants to remain in the Leeds area once released. The court heard that he preferred to be homeless.
Judge Simon Batiste told Grimstead: “You clearly lost your temper.”
He jailed him for six months and activated 12 months of his suspended sentence, making a total of 18 months.
He also gave him a three-year restraining order.