Businessman, 60, held knife to friend's throat during row (From The Oxford Times)

Businessman, 60, held knife to friend's throat during row

7:10pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in News

A 60-YEAR-OLD businessman held a knife to a friend’s throat in a Cowley Road cafe in a row over money.

Abdelkader Benallal flew into a rage in George and Delila’s (G&D’s) and set upon Mohammed Haddadene.

The incident, on February 28, was captured on CCTV and Benallal admitted common assault and possessing an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Naomi Perry said the pair had agreed to meet for a coffee at about 2pm to discuss a shop lease.

She said Benallal believed he was owed money by Mr Haddadene and the conversation became heated.

She said: “Mr Benallal said: ‘I’m going to kill you’.

“At that point he got up and grabbed from the table a knife – a table knife – that he had been eating with and held it to Mr Haddadene’s neck just below the jaw.”

After Mr Haddadene asked staff to call police, Benallal, of Asquith Road, Rose Hill, ran out.

Trudi Yeatman, defending, said: “Whether money was owed or not it was an unusual way of dealing with it and somewhat out of character.

“He is 60 years old and has been in this country for 31 years without ever getting in trouble with police.”

Miss Yeatman said the money Benallal was owed “sent his business spiralling” and he recently declared himself bankrupt.

She added: “He’s been very, very remorseful and is very ashamed of his actions.

“He has written a letter to the victim saying how desperately sorry he is.”

At Oxford Crown Court on Monday, Judge Patrick Eccles gave Benallal an eight-week night-time curfew between 7pm and 7am and ordered him to pay £100 costs at a rate of £2.50 a week.