Man jailed for weapon offences in Locks Heath & Southampton

A man who armed himself with a pair of scissors and a knife in incidents in Locks Heath and Southampton has been jailed.

Jacob Willoughby, aged 22, was part of a group of people involved in breaking into a car in Curlew Road, Whiteley, late in the evening of 18 December 2022. A wallet was stolen from inside the vehicle.

The car’s owner became alerted to the theft, and got in his vehicle to track down the people responsible.

He confronted the group at the Esso Petrol Station on Bridge Road in Locks Heath, and police were called.

On attendance, officers located Willoughby who was carrying a pair of large Tuff-cut scissors.

He was arrested and charged with theft and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

In a separate incident, which was investigated by the British Transport Police, Willoughby was arrested at Southampton Central train station on 1 July 2022 after he was caught with a large, black-handled kitchen knife.

He was subsequently charged with possession of a knife in a public place.

Willoughby, of New Road in Southampton, admitted all of the offences and appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday 15 February for sentencing.

At the hearing, he was jailed for 12 months.

PC Rosy Dudeney Cotterill said: “We take a robust stance against anyone who chooses to carry a knife or a weapon.

“As soon as you make that choice to pick up a blade, you run the very real risk of seriously injuring or even killing someone.

“We want to make clear that even in circumstances where a weapon is not used, there can be serious consequences to carrying one, including prison as in Jacob Willoughby’s case.

“There is simply no excuse.”