A crazed woman lunged at a neighbour with a large knife before being caught on shocking footage wielding the weapon in the street.

Drugged-up Kelly Hill, aged 39, came within a centimetre of stabbing the man as he tried to close his door, a court heard.

Schizophrenic Hill had been a nightmare neighbour to residents in a quiet cul-de-sac – but the victim had no idea why she tried to attack him.

Dominic Airzee said his two children were left in fear that the woman with the knife would return.

He said in a statement read to Plymouth Crown Court: “I have been told to lock my doors and windows. I should not have to live like this.”

Kelly Hill has been jailed for 16 months
Kelly Hill has been jailed for 16 months

Hill was arrested by armed police.

Her home has now been boarded up and she cannot return, a previous hearing was told.

Jailing Hill for 16 months, Judge James Townsend said: “This is an absolutely terrifying and serious incident.

“You went up to someone’s front door, you issued threats in the presence of children and when he opened his front door slightly, you pushed a knife through the gap and only just missed him.”

The judge, having read a psychiatric report, said that she had mental health problems – but they were mostly caused by her long-term drug abuse.

The previous hearing was told that she had been using heroin.

Police at the scene in Laira
Police at the scene in Laira

Hill pleaded guilty to possession of a knife causing fear of violence on July 2.

She also admitted threatening behaviour during the incident just after 4pm on a Monday.

Judith Constable, for the Crown Prosecution Service, played mobile phone footage taken by another neighbour which showed Hill brandishing the large knife.

She added that Hill was captured for 41 seconds shouting abuse towards homes in Mullet Close.

Miss Constable said she had moments earlier banged on Mr Airzee’s door, swearing and shouting “grasses”.

The barrister added that he warily opened the door a little – only for Hill to lunge at him through the gap.

Armed police were called to the Laira Street
Armed police were called to the Laira Street

Miss Constable said that the blade missed by a centimetre before Mr Airzee managed to shut the door.

She added that his two children were in the house, who helped him lock the door.

The barrister read a statement from Mr Airzee: “She absolutely terrified my little boy, he was left screaming and crying. I have been told to keep my doors and windows locked. I should not have to live like this.

“I do not know why she has targeted me.”

Mr Aizee said he had problems with Hill – but so had everyone else in the street.

Plymouth Crown Court
The case was heard at Plymouth Crown Court

John Haythorne, for Hill, said she would move away from the street if granted her freedom.

He added she would stay with her mother and then asked to be rehoused if given a suspended sentence.

A previous hearing was told she had a history of mental health problems and had been detained at a psychiatric unit for six months eight years ago.

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