A Cowes man, whose refusal to leave his house resulted in Armed Police being deployed, has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Ben Hayman, 45, of Arctic Road in Cowes, appeared before Magistrates last week (29th November) having previously admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and obstructing/resisting a constable in the execution of their duty.
As previously reported by Island Echo, on the morning of 1st April (Easter Monday) this year Police rushed to Arctic Road following reports of a domestic-related incident.
Hayman and a female were inside the property when the Police arrived, but he refused to leave the bedroom. The court heard how officers were concerned about going into the house due to the possible presence of needles.
The 45-year-old threatened officers telling them he would ‘drop them’ if they came inside. Attempts to detain Hayman using a 5-step method were unsuccessful and so he was PAVA sprayed – not once but twice – which, in turn, allowed officers to enter the upstairs bedroom.
Once inside the bedroom, Hayman picked up a curved samurai sword from beside his bed and pulled it from its sheath.
Armed Response Officers were called to the scene as the situation escalated, setting up post outside the residential address with guns pointed at the front door. Eventually, after around 15 minutes of back and forth, Hayman left the property and was arrested before being taken to Newport Police Station.
Hayman has a total of 8 convictions for 13 offences. He was last in court back in 2005.
Defending, Nick Muir told the court that on the day in question, Hayman was suffering with mental health issues and that he was in the process of changing his medication. He also added that the sword in Hayman’s bedroom was ornamental and had he knew that owning the sword was illegal he would’ve handed it into Police.
Magistrates handed Hayman a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18-months. As part of his suspended sentence order he has to undergo a 6-month drug rehabilitation programme.
Hayman was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £154 surcharge fee.
We can all rest easy now