Man sentenced after threatening police with fake gun
A man who threatened two police officers with an imitation handgun in Telford town centre has been sentenced to 19 months in prison. Matthew Sylvester, 37, was jailed after pleading guilty to a number of offences.
The incident took place on a Saturday evening in February when PC Dan Arthur and PC George Oliver were called to a store. They had received a report of a man attempting to break in using a trolley.
Unbeknown to the officers, Sylvester was preparing for their arrival. He went to a nearby trolley park, where he covered his face with a jumper and forged a brown paper bag to look like a handgun.
As the officers’ patrol car entered the car park, Sylvester charged at them, brandishing the imitation firearm. The officers made off, but found themselves stuck behind a barrier.
Sylvester moved to the passenger side of the car, where he threatened PC Oliver through the window and kicked the vehicle.
It was dark, and the officers could not clearly see the object he was holding. Believing it to be a real gun, they called for back-up.
Sylvester then opened the car’s boot. The two officers got out and were threatened again before a foot chase began, with the suspect running towards a housing estate.
Before he could get off the car park, PC Arthur and PC Oliver bravely tackled him to the ground. They were able to remove the jumper from his face, revealing it was Matthew Sylvester, who is known to the police.
It was then established that the firearm was, in fact, a paper bag folded to resemble a handgun. Sylvester, of no fixed abode, was arrested for multiple offences.
He was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of an imitation firearm, possession of a class A drug, and attempted burglary. Sylvester pleaded guilty to all charges during his trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
Chief Inspector Matt Sanders said: “The bravery and professionalism shown by both PCs that evening was nothing short of extraordinary. Fortunately, neither officer sustained any injuries, and Sylvester was swiftly arrested thanks to the quick thinking and actions of both officers that night, along with those who also came to their aid.”
