Man charged in connection with public order offence in Wickham

Officers investigating a public order offence in Wickham in March have now charged a man.

We were called shortly before 5.25pm on Thursday 9 March to reports that a man in possession of a machete was making threats to members of the public in Wickham Square.

We attended and arrested a 39-year-old man from Wickham, who has now been charged.

William Joseph Castle, of The Circle, has been charged with possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place and using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with intent to cause fear of/provoke unlawful violence.

He has been bailed with conditions and is next due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Monday 26 June.

A 46-year-old man from Fareham was arrested on suspicion of theft and affray and a 38-year-old man from Fareham was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, affray and shoplifting in relation to this incident. 

They have both been released on conditional police bail while our enquiries into their involvement continue.