This week 60 years ago: Man threatens Holloway cinema staff with knife, gets subdued by torch

A cinema-goer who pulled a knife on a member of staff was subdued – by a torch.

Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard labourer James Curran, 20, was at the cinema in Holloway Road. He was told by an attendant to stop lurking by the exit. Curran, of Highgate, responded by drawing a jack knife.

Det Cons Ronald Page said: “The attendant hit him on the shoulder with his torch, and that subdued him.”

Curran pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and was remanded for a week.

To quite literally add insult to his shoulder injury, Curran was described as “more stupid than violent”.

Meanwhile, con artist Frank Zammet, 29, of Carleton Road. was jailed for a year after being caught stealing musical instruments from people’s homes in Highbury, Finsbury Park and Holloway while posing as “the man from the Water Board”.