Description
A convicted rapist threatened to kill a man just hours after being released from prison.
Jason O’Dell, who had just served a nine-year sentence for rape, turned up at a family member’s home in Longstanton at about 5.30pm on 17 February this year.
After the victim showed him into the kitchen, O’Dell asked for money to help him “get back on his feet”.
The victim refused, citing abusive letters he had received from O’Dell while he was in prison.
This enraged O’Dell, who shouted, “you are disrespecting me, who do you think you are?”.
He then grabbed a six-inch knife from a block and pinned the victim against the worktop, threatening to “end him.”
The victim, fearing for his life, pleaded with O’Dell to put the knife down and offered to talk about money.
O’Dell refused and pressed the knife harder into the victim’s side, repeating his threats.
A struggle between the two ensued, during which the victim managed to wrestle the knife from O’Dell’s grip.
The victim managed to shout out to another household member to call the police and managed to get O’Dell out of this home.
O’Dell was arrested a few hours later in Cambridge and was recalled to prison.
He initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a private place and making threats to kill.
O’Dell was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (30 October) to three years and ten months in prison.
DC Samuel Andrews, who investigated, said:
“O’Dell’s actions caused considerable fear and distress for the victim, in his own home.
“O’Dell is clearly a dangerous individual who has a history of offending and I hope the fact he’s back behind bars provides reassurance to those affected by crimes.”