Man jailed after threatening crowd with samurai sword in Milton Keynes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 15:44 · Archive

Aaron Messenbird threatened members of the public with a samurai sword in Milton Keynes on July 30, injuring a man who tried to intervene.

Aaron Messenbird, 32, threatened a group of people gathered by a van in Milton Keynes at around 9pm on July 30. He carried a samurai sword and raised it in a threatening manner towards the group.

One man attempted to protect his friends by trying to wrestle the blade from Messenbird. He suffered serious injuries including damage to a tendon in his hand and a rib injury requiring specialist treatment. Other bystanders then intervened, with one wielding a spirit level to force Messenbird to flee the scene.

Messenbird was later seen walking along Silbury Boulevard still carrying the sword. He was arrested on August 5 and charged the following day. He pleaded guilty to threatening someone with a bladed article, possessing a bladed article in public, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court to one year in prison.

Investigating officer PC Jordan Buchanan-Kay said the bystanders who intervened 'undoubtedly contributed to protecting others from harm' and acknowledged their bravery in stepping in during the violent incident.

How it is being reported

• Moment samurai sword attacker is fought off by bystanders including man wielding spirit levelAaron Messenbird, 32, threatened a small group of people around a van and waving in Milton Keynes at around 9pm on July 30, in what police described as a violent, unprovoked assault.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 15:27
• Moment hero builder duels with samurai swordsman using just his spirit levelTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A have-a-go hero managed to fend off a man armed with a samurai sword using only his spirit level. Aaron Messenbird, 32, was caught on camera swinging a…Metro · 20 Oct, 18:36

In this story: Aaron Messenbird · Milton Keynes · Thames Valley Police · Aylesbury Crown Court

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