A teenager who wielded a large machete in Nottingham city centre has been jailed.
Connor Gladwin, aged 19, was chased down and arrested by police officers – moments after a member of the public called 999 to report youths running through the street with knives.
Officers attended North Sherwood Street shortly after 9.15pm on 1 September this year and immediately caught sight of Gladwin, who attempted to flee.
After a brief chase he was intercepted by a passing police car and arrested.
A large machete was recovered nearby after a botched attempt by Gladwin to dispose of it during the chase.
Gladwin, of Hungerhill Road, St Ann’s, declined to comment during his first police interview but pleaded guilty the following morning to possessing a bladed article in a public place.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (10 November) he was sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders’ institution.
Detective Constable Rebecca Brosgarth, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Officers were called by a member of the public who was understandably very alarmed by the sight of lethal weapons being brandished in the street.
“We take incidents like this extremely seriously and were very quickly on the scene. Thanks to some great teamwork by officers Gladwin was stopped in his tracks and arrested.
“I am glad he has now been punished for his actions and hope that this period of detention will serve as a warning to other young people about the potential consequences of carrying weapons in public.
“I am also hopeful that he will use this experience as an opportunity to change the direction of his life.
“Knife crime can have a devastating impact not only on the victims who are killed or seriously injured, but also on the lives of offenders who have to live with the consequences of their actions. I would, then, urge people never to leave the house in possession of a knife.”
The sentencing comes as Nottinghamshire Police takes part in national Operation Sceptre – a week long campaign to highlight the extensive work the force does all year round to tackle knife crime – which has seen offences fall by 25 per cent in the last three years.
