'Wolverine knifeman' jailed for shocking high street rampage
An Albanian-born car wash worker who terrified onlookers as he ran amok with a hammer and four knives is starting a near two-year jail sentence.
Ylvi Cenaj resembled the science fiction movie mutant Wolverine during the alarming rampage in Brownhills High Street, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The drama started after the 24-year-old walked into the Retribution tattoo parlour and told the owner that he had been ‘sent to kill her,’ revealed Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting.
Then he left and started ‘smashing up’ four cars which were parked behind the parlour with a hammer he found in one of the vehicles, it was said.
The owner had wisely taken the opportunity to pull down the shutters on her premises after Cenaj walked out only to return later armed with four kitchen knives.
He used them to repeatedly ‘stab’ the shutters and one eye witness later told police that when the defendant had the knives in his hands he was reminiscent of the film character Wolverine, the court heard.
Cenaj was still attacking the shutters when police arrived at the scene.
The defendant attempted to explain his behaviour by claiming the repeated taunts of a group of Pakistani men had driven him to breaking point.
This was dismissed by Judge James Burbidge QC.
The defendant, who was living in the High Street after entering the country illegally two years ago, pleaded guilty to possession of four knives, assault and criminal damage.
He was jailed for 23 months by Judge Burbidge who told him: “If you do not have mental health issues you were under the influence of some illegal substance.”
