Man found with knife in a recreation ground in Peterborough has been jailed

A man who was found with a knife in a recreation ground in Peterborough has been jailed.

36-year- old Damian Szczeluba of Bridge Street in Peterborough, was spotted on CCTV waving the weapon around in Stanley recreation ground last Friday - but didn't appear to be threatening anyone.

While police were on their way, another call came in, this time from a member of the public who was walking through the park.

Szczeluba was given more than nine months in prison after admitting being in possession of a knife in a public place - and the activation of a previous suspended sentence.

He appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (22 February) where he was sentenced to a total of 43 weeks in prison, which included the activation of a previously suspended sentence, after admitting being in possession of a knife in a public place.

Szczeluba was handed a 22-week suspended prison sentence in December last year for criminal damage and assaulting an emergency worker after he ripped a television from a hotel wall and spat at a police officer.

PC Leo Clarke, who investigated, said:

“Szczeluba has a previous conviction for being in possession of a weapon, and even though it was 15 years ago, it remains on his record and was considered in court when the sentence was imposed – with the minimum sentence to be at least six months in prison.

“This was a great spot by CCTV operators, and I would like to thank the member of the public who also contacted us. While Szczeluba did not threaten anyone, this was a public place and in a usually busy part of town and could have been frightening for anyone who came across it.”

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