Plungington man who wielded a meat cleaver is jailed

A Preston man has been jailed for two years after running through the street wielding a meat cleaver.

Jamie Killeen of Ripon Street triggered a police call-out to Plungington after he threatened a stranger with the weapon and robbed a woman of her mobile phone.

The 28-year-old was sentenced at Preston Crown Court following the incident in the early hours of November 25.

Around 3.15am Killeen began to follow a 26-year-old woman after she had taken money from a cash point and bought items from the Price Check store in Plungington Road.

As she left the shop and walked along Ripon Street then Killeen grabbed her arm and demanded money. She handed over her mobile phone and Killeen ran off.

Police viewed CCTV and connected that Killeen had been involved in an affray in Plungington just 10 minutes before the robbery.

He was seen wielding a meat cleaver while engaged in an argument with another man.

Police found the weapon after it as thrown down the side of the Price Check shop.

The weapon that was found in Plungington Pic: Preston Police

Killeen was seen four times on CCTV attempting to find the cleaver.

Detective Constable Richard Shires said: “I cannot stress how frightened the victim must have been after being grabbed and robbed by Killeen while walking home in the dark. We quickly realised after conducting enquiries in the area that Killeen had been involved with another incident just ten minutes earlier, so we are pleased the court has seen fit to hand him a custodial sentence.

“We hope he now uses his time behind bars to reflect on the consequences of his actions.”