A man has been jailed for a knife offence in Fareham

Police were called at 1.07pm on Saturday 6 November 2021, after 52-year-old Ian Hawkins was spotted with a knife on the High Street. 

When police attended, Hawkins was located sitting on a bench outside Wilko, and following a search of his rucksack a large kitchen knife was found.

A witness confirmed that Hawkins had just purchased the knife at Wilko, and had made comments suggesting he was going to ‘do some damage’ with it. 

Hawkins, who was on licence at the time of the offence, was arrested and maintained he had bought the knife for fishing.

He was subsequently charged with possession of a knife in a public place, and the case went to trial at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 22 December 2021.

Magistrates deliberated for 40 minutes before convicting him of the offence, and the case was transferred to Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing.

Appearing at Crown Court on Wednesday 2 February, Hawkins, of Penhale Gardens in Fareham, was jailed for two and a half years.

PC Bird, who investigated the case, said: “There is no excuse for carrying a knife in public. Knives cause serious injury and death, and there is no place for them on our streets.

“Hawkins’ excuse of needing it to go fishing was disputed by Magistrates, as Hawkins was on licence at the time, having served a jail term for a stabbing offence. 

“He is now back behind bars, and another knife that could have caused serious harm to the publichas been removed.”