Canterbury Crown Court, where the cases were held

by Paul Hooper

The father of a man serving a long jail sentence for attempted murder threatened to take revenge... on a woman who gave evidence at the trial.

Phoebe Marsh – who had been a prosecution witness at the trial of Jim Chambers – had been working at a Canterbury clothes shop in June last year.

As she looked up, she saw the 21-year-old knifeman's father, Trevor Chambers, staring at her.

Ian Foinette, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how foul-mouthed Chambers – who held a grudge against the woman – then said: "You are a c*** ... I'm going to have you."

He said the woman was so frightened that she called the police to report the incident.

Chambers, 47, of Walmer Road, Whitstable, pleaded guilty to threatening to take revenge – and has been told he is likely to receive a jail sentence.

In 2011, his son Jim was sent to prison for 12 years at the same court following a knife attack.

At the attempted murder trial, Judge James O'Mahony told Jim Chambers he regarded him as a danger to victim James Middleton because it was a revenge attack.

"this was appalling, shocking violent behaviour. it was serious criminal violence, serious knife crime…” – judge james o'mahony

The judge said: "Jim Chambers had intent to kill James Middleton. This was appalling, shocking violent behaviour. It was serious criminal violence, serious knife crime."

Mr Foinette said Chambers senior sat through each day of the trial and saw Miss Marsh giving her evidence.

Jim Chambers was sentenced in May last year. The following month, Miss Marsh was working at a shop in Canterbury. At midday she saw the defendant and his wife enter the shop.

"At first they stayed a relatively short time looking around," Mr Foinette said. "Two or three minutes later, she saw the defendant return on his own.

"He stood 10 or 15 feet away from her, staring at her and after half a minute said: 'You’re a c***... I'm going to have you'."

Then he walked out of the shop.

Mr Foinette added: "She said that she was frightened and it was plain what the origins of those words was and she was concerned for her own safety and reported the matter to police."

Mr Foinette said Chambers, who has served prison sentences for violence in the past, was arrested and told police he had been in the shop but had not recognised anyone."

Oliver Saxby, defending, said the father had taken issue with some of Miss Marsh's evidence and when he went into the shop "his emotions got the better of him".

Judge Heather Norton adjourned sentence for a month, telling Chambers he faced a sentence of no more than six months – with the possibility it may be suspended.