RYDE MAN WHO BRANDISHED MACHETE IN FRONT OF CHILDREN HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE

A man seen wandering the streets of Ryde in broad daylight armed with a machete – witnessed by many, including children – has received a suspended prison sentence. Martin Bell, 52, of St Thomas’ Street in Ryde, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court back in January where he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place. The charge relates to an incident on 30th September last year when Armed Police were deployed to the Esplanade following reports of a male seen carrying a machete in the vicinity of The King Lud pub – just 100 metres from Bell’s front door. Specialist officers from both sides of the Solent surrounded Bell’s address before later relocating to The Binstead Arms pub in Binstead. Now, more than 10 months after the incident unfolded, Bell has been sentenced. Appearing before Magistrates on Thursday 1st August – having failed to appear on Friday 26th July – Magistrates handed Martin Bell a 6-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. The custodial sentence – imposed due to the seriousness of the offence, including the production of a machete in daylight, in public, with lots of people around and children present – was suspended due to Bell’s ‘significant mental and physical health issues’, and the fact he has not re-offended in the past 10 months. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 surcharge.