A Bedford man has been sent to prison for a year after pleading guilty to intimidating a witness with an axe.
Last October, Nathan Stubbings, 28, of Poppyfields, Bedford, targeted his victim because he’d given a police statement about a previous assault that Stubbings receiving a suspended sentence for.
Stubbings verbally abused his victim and attempted to punch him before walking away. But he returned with an axe and threatened the victim with it.
When officers arrived, Stubbings was found in bed in a nearby home with the axe hidden underneath it.
On 25 January, Stubbings was sentenced to:
- 26 weeks for witness intimidation and 26 weeks for possession of a bladed article, to run concurrently.
- Eight weeks for common assault, four weeks for racially aggravated harassment, eight weeks for criminal damage, and six weeks for breaching a suspended sentence to run consecutively.
PC Gary Hatton, who investigated, said: “First of all I would like to commend the victim for his bravery. He has done the right thing on both occasions – standing up to the offender and reporting him to the police.
“Hopefully this will send a clear message to any person who attempts to intimidate or threaten a witness that we will bring them to justice.
“We will not tolerate violent attacks on the members of our community. Stubbings will now spend time in prison and hopefully reflect on his despicable actions.”
