A man who broke a bank with an ax has avoided prison

A man armed with an axe who destroyed a city centre bank then sat inside listening to music has been sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Cambridgeshire Police were called to Barclays Bank in Peterborough Cathedral Square on March 6 at around 06:30 BST following reports of a man damaging the building.

Officers reported that the building’s glass windows, nine ATMs, a glass balustrade and a customer desk in the branch were destroyed, and an axe was found on a table.

Darren Wyer, of Reeves Way, Eastfield, was arrested and later charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place, namely an axe, and causing damage of an unknown value to Barclays Bank.

Wyer appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday where he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was required to complete a 20-day rehabilitation period after pleading guilty to both crimes.

PC Philip Plume said: “Wyer’s brazen actions show he had no regard for the impact this would have on both staff and the wider community, who were deeply concerned by his behaviour.

“Fortunately, we were able to respond quickly, locate and arrest Wyer before any further damage or harm could be caused.”

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