Knifeman, 21, in clown mask who ‘stared’ at children AVOIDS jail after he said it was a ‘prank’

A knifeman in a clown mask terrified children at a local school, then claimed it was a “joke.”

Drelle Willis, 21, was spotted on the AstroTurf of a Fallowfield primary school wearing the creepy mask and ‘staring’ at children in a menacing manner.

Whenever the kids ran away from him, Willis followed them, even when they were upset, Manchester heard Crown Court.

The director of the school had to bring the children in because they were ‘absolutely petrified’. Half an hour later, police spotted him nearby and found him with a large kitchen knife up his sleeve. He later claimed it was a “joke.”

Willis admitted possession of a knife and was given a suspended sentence on Friday.

Prosecutor Mark Pritchard said just after 5pm on Sept. 22, the director of Wilbraham Primary School called 999 after seeing an “unidentified man” standing on the AstroTurf wearing a clown mask and “showing threatening behaviour.”

“He said the AstroTurf is usually open to the public after hours, and that children and families often play there,” the prosecutor said. “He told the 999 call handler that the defendant was staring at the children and approaching them in a threatening manner.

“When the kids left, he followed them, even when they were upset.”

The director said he “grabbed” some of the children and brought them in because they were “terrified.” When the police later arrested and searched him, they found the knife and clown mask. The court heard that Willis had no previous convictions.

Rebecca Caulfield, on the defensive, said her client was “abused” during his childhood at the hands of his mother and stepfather and has since moved in with his grandmother. He has also been diagnosed with autism and learning disabilities, she said.

Ms Caulfield said he had ‘unexpected’ contact with his stepfather during the day and took a kitchen knife from his grandmother’s house, as well as a clown mask, and started ‘pranking’ him.

“He was upset about the whole situation,” she said. He didn’t know how to react to the situation. He used it to prank him.

“The knife was there for protection, because his stepfather had threatened him in the past.”

Rebecca Caulfield, on the defensive, said Willis was “abused” during his childhood at the hands of his mother and stepfather. He also has autism and learning disabilities

She said it would be “negligent” on her part not to acknowledge the trauma of the children at school, and said her client is “sorrowful and remorseful.” She said people with autism often don’t understand the consequences of their actions and said the trial was a “beneficial experience” for him.

Sentencing, Judge Recorder Nicholas Williams said: ‘If someone carries a knife in public, even if they believe for their own protection, the risk of someone being injured or even killed increases dramatically.

‘If knives are produced in a situation in which that unfortunately happens all too often. The message must be that carrying knives in public is simply not acceptable and will be dealt with by the courts.’

Willis, of Fairlawn Close, was sentenced to six months in prison, of which 12 months on probation, and was barred from entering a certain area in Manchester.