Beggar jailed after 'threatening to kill' café worker in Peterborough
33-year-old Lee Chignell was jailed for 26 weeks
Last updated 18th May 2024
A beggar in Peterborough who threatened to kill a café worker in the city centre has been jailed.
Lee Chignell, 33, of no fixed address, was begging outside Bear Coffee Shop in Cathedral Square on Wednesday morning, when he was asked by one of them to leave.
He said, “I will be back with a knife”, before leaving and returning about five minutes later.
The man made a comment about his fears that Chignell now had a weapon, which was overheard by a nearby off-duty police officer.
The off-duty officer arrested Chignell on suspicion of a public order offence.
On-duty response officers arrived and took Chignell to March Police Station where he was arrested further in relation to an earlier incident that happened at Café Nero in Cathedral Square.
He had reached across the counter and attempted to steal a ‘tips’ jar but was stopped by a worker.
Chignell, was refusing to give back the jar, shouted “give me your money”, “I’ve been in here before with a knife and I’m going to come back with a knife now and kill you”, before leaving.
Lee Chignell appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court yesterday (17/05) where he was jailed for 26 weeks after he admitted to making threats to kill, attempted theft, and using abusive or threatening behaviour.
He also admitted a charge of criminal damage relating to an incident at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on 25 April.
PC Kieran O’Shaughnessy, who investigated, said: “Tackling violence and abuse directed at those working in the city centre is a current priority for the City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team who are working hard to reduce anti-social behaviour, including begging, in the area to make it a nicer and safer place for those visiting the city and working there.
“Chignell’s behaviour was completely unacceptable, I would like to thank the off-duty officer who intervened and managed to detain Chignell before uniformed support arrived.”