Gardening Tool Threat and Machete Charge Lands Teen in Jail
Trishton Whyte, 20, from Ruskin Avenue, was slapped with a 12-month jail sentence at Swindon Youth Court on Thursday, 1 April. The hard luck came after he admitted threatening a man with a gardening tool back in November 2020 and a separate machete offence just last month.
Speeding VW Golf Stop Uncovers Hidden Machete
On the evening of Monday 8 March, Whyte was caught as a passenger in a speeding VW Golf on Great Western Way. Police pulled the car over after spotting a faulty rear light and suspicious speed. The chase ended on Headlands Grove, where officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis escaping from the vehicle.
A search revealed Whyte stashing a large double-edged machete down his jogging bottoms, tucked away in a sleeve.
Police Slam Knife Crime and Welcome Conviction
PC Craig Head said: “We welcome this result as both incidences are very serious; the threatening behaviour towards a Swindon resident, using a garden implement as a weapon, and, the separate incident of Whyte carrying an illegal machete, which could cause someone serious harm, were both unacceptable.
“The message here is that carrying a knife as a weapon is not only breaking the law but the person carrying it is more likely to be seriously or fatally injured compared to someone who isn’t. Also, if you are caught in possession of such a knife, you are more likely to end up in prison.”
Speak Up on Knife Crime – Stay Safe
If you know about knife crime in your area, don’t stay silent. Report it safely and anonymously by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also visit www.wiltshire.police.uk.
