Two and a half year sentence for knife criminal
A man who threatened members of the public with a bladed article in Chipping Norton has been jailed for more than two years and given a Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO).
Darren Smith, aged 37, of Fox Close, Chipping Norton, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of an offensive weapon and was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict of threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place following a two-day trial at Oxford Crown Court, which concluded last Tuesday (12/3).
He was subsequently sentenced to two years and six months in prison and made subject to an SVRO for a period of 12 months upon his release.
On 7 September last year in Walterbush Road, Chipping Norton, officers were called to an altercation.
A verbal argument escalated and Smith ran towards the victim brandishing a knife towards him.
The victim managed to flee, escaping any serious injury.
On 12 September, police were called again to reports of a large fight in Burford Road, Chipping Norton.
Smith was seen with a large knife and witnesses saw him place something into a hedgerow.
Following a search, officers located a large hatchet in the hedge, which was attributed to Smith following forensic examinations.
Smith was arrested on 12 September and was charged with the offences the following day.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Dan Smith of the Witney Priority Crime Team, said: “We do not tolerate knife carrying in the Thames Valley, and through Operation Deter principles, Smith was charged and remanded for grave offences of threatening people in a public place with a bladed article.
“He has rightly been sentenced to a prison term as a result of his actions, and he will be subjected to a Serious Violence Reduction Order upon his release.
“SVROs are a relatively new piece of legislation which enables officers to stop and search those subjected to these orders with or without suspicion.
“I hope that this sentence and the SVRO will reassure the local community that we will tackle knife crime in all its forms and bring offenders to justice.”
