West Mersea man jailed after police stopped car to find child sitting on samurai sword

Chelmsford Crown Court. Picture: GOOGLE MAPS (Image: Archant)

Jamie Hayden, 38, of Waldergraves Lane, West Mersea, was sent to prison 18 months at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.

Officers stopped a Range Rover in Ipswich Road in the Essex town around 2.40am on Saturday, July 15, and found two young children in the vehicle.

One of the children was sitting on a samurai sword and a large hunting knife was also discovered in the car.

During his arrest, Hayden told officers that two other children in his care, both aged under nine, were at his home alone.

Police found the children and drugs inside after attending the address.

After he was released under investigation the following day, Hayden drove to an address in Chingford, London, and threatened the occupants with a metal pole.

Investigating officer Dc Kirsty Brannon, of the child abuse investigation team, said: “Our officers carried out a routine stop check and were shocked to find two young children in arm’s length of weapons.

“We were given a further shock when Hayden told arresting officers that two further young children in his care were at his home alone. We quickly attended the address and safeguarded the children.

“Not only were these vulnerable young children in danger, they were all visibly upset.

“Fortunately, we managed to arrest Hayden before they were seriously hurt. He will now face the consequences of his actions locked in a prison cell.”

Hayden was sentenced to nine months for affray and one month for possession of drugs, to run concurrently.

He received 12 week sentences for each of the four counts of causing a child unnecessary suffering, to run concurrently to each other but consecutively to the affray.

Hayden also was given six months for possession of a knife and possession of an offensive weapon, these are also running concurrently to each other but consecutively to the affray.