34-year-old David Edward Dunford from Shamblers Road, Cowes has been handed down a 12 month jail term – suspended for 2 years – after being arrested outside a Cowes Primary School armed with a crossbow.
As first reported by Island Echo, Armed Police descended on Cowes on 3rd February this year following reports of a man having been seen with a crossbow in the area of Ward Avenue. The armed officers later arrested Dunford on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon outside the entrance to Lanesend Primary School on Love Lane – a charge he later admitted.
At sentencing last week, the Isle of Wight Crown Court accepted that Dunford had been mentally unwell at the time of the incident and had since been treated at Sevenacres Mental Health Unit. He is now said to be well.
The court heard how David Dunford armed himself with a crossbow as he felt his life was in danger due to information he held regarding the disappearance of teenager Damien Nettles nearly 20 years ago.
Judge Peter Ralls handed down a 12 month jail term, suspended for 2 years and ordered Dunford to a community rehabilitation order.
