At the city's Rickergate court, Bell, from Cumberland Court, Carlisle, admitted common assault and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place without a reasonable excuse. But as the man was shutting his window, through which the defendant had spoken to him, he trapped Bell’s fingers. It was after this that the defendant appeared with a baseball bat, threatening his neighbour with it. The two men ended up scuffling and when that ended the victim had a cut to his knee, the court heard. The defendant had 36 previous offences on his record, but the most recent crime was 20 years ago, said Mr Basra.