A knife-wielding serial offender who blamed her terrifying antics on ‘anxiety and depression’ has been jailed – after a fed-up judge said using mental health issues to excuse criminality was “all too common.” Mum-of-one Nikita Blake, 32, boasted 31 previous offences including a previous knife offence, drugs and shoplifting when brought before a judge for drunkenly waving a blade in a park in front of families and kids.
Sefton Magistrates Court heard on 21st August 2024 police were called as she swung a large knife in a park near a man walking with his two frightened children, before she headed to a bus stop. After being arrested, inquiries revealed she had a suspended sentence in April 2023 for possession of a knife which she already breached in January 2024 prompting her to have been already locked up for 14 weeks.
When quizzed Blake, from Wavertee, Liverpool, said her PTSD, alcohol and substance problems stemmed from suffering domestic abuse as a child and in her relationships – and she should avoid jail due to her “exceptional circumstances.”
But District Judge Timothy Boswell caged her for 30 weeks after she admitted possessing a bladed article in a public place and possessing cannabis saying she could not use mental health as an excuse.
The judge told her: “This is very serious because knives are inherently dangerous. In the blink of an eye someone can get very seriously hurt or worse. I have heard you have had trauma in your life, substance abuse and mental health.
“Nevertheless, I am afraid to say substance abuse and mental health are all too common and I do not think the circumstances in relation to you are exceptional.”
The incident occurred on 21st August 2025 after police received a call from a member of the public saying a woman was carrying a kitchen knife whilst in the company of two men.
Prosecutor Gayle McCoubrey said: “CCTV operators from Citywatch Liverpool said there were individuals at a bus stop they had seen the defendant lift up her top and reveal a large kitchen knife in her waist band.
“She pulled the knife out and sat on it at the bus stop.
“The defendant was detained by police and when she stood up the kitchen knife was seized by the officer. The witness was spoken to and he said he had seen the defendant on the street carrying that large knife and waving it around.”
A probation officer, who spoke to her, told the hearing Blake – who lives off universal credit – said at that time she was struggling with alcohol and drug addiction.
The probation officer added: “She met a drug dealer who challenged her and produced the knife and she took it off him.
“I asked her about waving the knife and she said she has health conditions and was likely to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Her childhood was marred by domestic violence in the home.
“She has had relationships. Some of them involved domestic abuse as well. She is diagnosed with PTSD anxiety and depression.”
Blake’s lawyer Kevin Kelly said: “She is medicated for the complex mental health issues that she has. She has also reduced her reliance on drugs. She wants to turn her life around.”