FORMER military man Stephen Atkinson armed himself with a machete, knives and Molotov cocktail and terrified his landlady and three men when he held them at knife­point while demanding repayment of a £4,000 loan, Truro Crown Court heard last Thursday.

Atkinson, aged 56, who has been living at the Newmarket Inn in Race Hill, Launceston, for the past three years, pleaded guilty to four charges of false imprisonment and one of making threats to kill.

A man of previous good character, he was jailed for four years.

Judge Christopher Elwen told Atkinson that whether or not the money was a debt or a gift was not for this court to determine but demanding money in such circumstances, whatever the background, was wholly and completely unacceptable.

Atkinson admitted that at on August 15 last he imprisoned Mrs Jennifer Falkenstein, whom he had known for 27 years and who was the landlady of the Newmarket Inn, her grandson Jason Williams, his friend Aaron May and her caretaker, Stewart Cornish and threated to kill them.

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