Man jailed for making threats with knife at holiday park

A man assaulted two police officers after being arrested for threatening someone with a knife.

Shaqeel Karim was involved in an altercation at Medmerry Park, Bracklesham, on the evening of Saturday 19 June, 2021, when he damaged a van wing mirror.

He then returned to his caravan on the site and was approached by witnesses who confronted him about his behaviour.

Following this, he exited his home in possession of a knife and threatened a man.

Police were called and Karim, who is 28 and unemployed, was initially compliant. However, his mood changed after he was placed under arrest, at which point he spat and kicked out at officers.

He was also found in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Karim was subsequently arrested and charged with threatening a person with a knife in public, causing criminal damage, possession of a Class B drug and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

His case was heard before Lewes Crown Court on 8 November, where he was sentenced to a total of 27 months’ imprisonment.

Investigating officer PC Matt Dodd, of the Chichester Neighbourhood Response Unit, said: “Karim was initially compliant upon arrest, however he quickly became verbally and physically aggressive and began spitting, which left us with no option but to place him in a spit hood.

“While he was clearly intoxicated, his actions are inexcusable and we will not accept assaults on our police officers. He also placed the public in fear of violence after threatening a man with a knife.

“I’d like to thank those who reported this incident to us and provided witness statements, which enabled us to secure Karim’s conviction.”