Man Jailed After Waving Samurai Sword on Christmas Night
A 45-year-old man was caged for six months after flashing a samurai sword in a Basingstoke car park on Christmas Day.
Wild Xmas Evening at B&M Car Park
John Shrubshall, who has no fixed address, was spotted wielding the deadly blade around 7.45pm on 25 December at the B&M car park on Worting Road.
A witness told police they saw Shrubshall kicking the only vehicle parked there before stashing the sword under the car and running off.
Swift Police Action Nets Arrest
Officers quickly arrived on scene and nabbed Shrubshall shortly afterwards. Fortunately, no one was threatened or injured during the bizarre sword showdown.
Shrubshall admitted to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and was sentenced at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on 13 January.
Zero Tolerance on Offensive Weapons
Detective Constable Natalie Gardner said: “We uphold a zero-tolerance approach towards offensive weapons and knife crime.”
“Thankfully, in this instance, no one was hurt, and I’m pleased that our officers were able to quickly attend the scene and make a swift arrest.”
“Taking knives and weapons off the streets is another priority for us and I hope this result highlights how seriously we take these reports.”
