Chainsaw and harpoon gun wielding Isle of Wight men jailed

Cayliam Sheen and Cameron Baker appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Tuesday), with co-defendant Conor Pattrick.

Sheen, 23, of Elm Grove, Newport, had previously admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon ­— namely a chainsaw.

Baker, 25, of no fixed abode, previously admitted affray, possession of cocaine and possession of an offensive weapon ­— namely a harpoon.

Both Baker and Sheen were given 18-month prison terms, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.

At a previous hearing, Pattrick, 27, of High Street, Freshwater, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis and possession of an offensive weapon in his car ­— namely a homemade stun gun.

Pattrick was handed an 18-month community order, to include ten rehabilitation days and 75 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay a surcharge of £95.

Prosecutor, Michael Forster, said police were called at 11pm on May 3 to an incident of threatening violence at Oak Vale.

He said a number of calls were made to the police by concerned members of the public, over a group of five, possible six heavily armed males, gathered outside a residential address.

Mr Forster said Baker and Sheen were among them, and in possession of a harpoon gun and a chainsaw.

He said other members of the group were seen with knives, a pole and even a hockey stick, and they were all shouting abuse and making threats to kill.

Mr Forster revealed phrases used included "I'm going to burn your house down", "when I find you I'm going to kill you", and "next time you're dead".

The court heard the incident lasted several minutes, then the group returned to the vehicle they arrived in and drove off.

Mr Forster said part of the vehicle registration was noted and given to police, and at 1.25am, a vehicle matching the description was spotted on Ashey Road, Ryde.

He said Pattrick was found to be the driver, appeared intoxicated, and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

The court heard an improvised stun gun was found in the centre console of the car.

Baker contacted the police to tell them he wished to surrender himself, and was also taken into custody. He was found with a small wrap of cocaine.

Police seized his phone, and discovered text messages which implicated him and made references to the harpoon gun.

Mr Forster said texts also suggested Pattrick and Sheen would be with him on the night.

Days later, on May 12, Sheen handed himself in at Newport Police Station and provided a statement.

In interview, Pattrick denied any involvement in the incident at Oak Vale, while Baker refused to comment.

Laura Deuxberry, for Baker, described the harpoon gun as a spear gun used for fishing.

She referred the judge to a pre-sentence report, describing Baker as a young man with a troubled past. He had been in custody since May, and was now clean from substances.

She outlined his troubled upbringing ­— his parents both being heroin dependant ­— and said he suffered from anxiety, depression and psychosis.

The court heard Baker had been threatened over damage allegedly caused at a party, and his actions on the night were born of a plan to scare the individual he thought was bullying him.

Graham Gilbert, defending Sheen, said any suggestion that his actions caused fear of harm were too speculative. He said there was no suggestion Sheen's target was at home.

The court heard Sheen felt guilty and disgusted by his actions, but he became involved out of concern for his friend.

Josh Happe, for Pattrick, said his client had no previous convictions for possession of a weapon and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He said Pattrick didn't participate in the incident at Oak Vale, and character references from various individuals spoke of how conscientious and hardworking he was.

He said there was no evidence Pattrick used, or intended to use the weapon, and claimed it had been found by a friend during a dog walk and left in his car.