The drunkard armed with “big” axes then pointed the rifle at the unarmed police

A drunk who found himself in a heated altercation with his parents was seen brandishing two axes in the street and then pointing a shotgun at frightened police who tried to help.

William Stacey, 27, was involved in a ‘fight’ with his parents in May 2021, during which police were called to their home as things escalated. He appeared for sentencing at Truro Crown Court today (Thursday June 13) after pleading guilty to affray and possession of a firearm.

Stacey, of Tregoad Lane in St Martin, Looe, was described as visibly drunk and became “agitated” when he tried to get into his vehicle to leave but was blocked by his mother’s car during the incident. As things escalated, he brandished two axes before retreating into the house and returning with a rifle which he then pointed at police officers.

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Prosecuting, Nigel Hall said police officers went to the bungalow where the defendant lives with his parents. On arrival, he was found to be swinging two large axes – one a felling ax and the other a crawling axe, held in both hands.

He was described as being in an “agitated state” and shouting while “waving axes overhead”. Two police officers intervened and one tried to calm the defendant down.

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During this conversation, he told the officers, “I’m not talking to you, f**t.” After verbal exchanges, the defendant returned to the property with the axes and was described as having calmed down.

The officers decided to give him some space and tried to get the parents to leave. The defendant remained in the property for several minutes, with officers waiting at the end of the driveway. The defendant then turned and pointed what was described as “a large firearm” directly at them before turning it towards the sky.

They both pulled into a lane and called for backup while they got to a safe space. Other units attended, and the defendant was soon arrested near the home, at which time he was unarmed.

The weapon was later confirmed to be a 12 gauge single barrel shotgun. Originally thought to be inoperable due to rust, power armor was able to make it operational with minimal cleaning work.

Michael Green, defending, said the defendant had no previous convictions and was a man of good character. Several positive references were written and presented to the court, including from the defendant’s parents, his sister, his local landlady and Stacey’s employer confirming that he is still available.

Mr Green said: “There was a combination of factors at play on the day of this incident. A recent diagnosis of both his parents with some serious medical issues, a relationship breakdown, stress at work and this very unhelpful passion for excessive drinking that he. admitted so fully.

“I fully accept, as he does, that this must have been frightening for those officers, but he has addressed drink and expressed his wish to continue to receive help to ensure he never returns to that useless passion of excessive drinking.”

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Simon Carr said: “On the day in question you had an argument (with your parents) which was so frightening, the police were called. Two police officers attended.

“Our police force is unarmed, generally not wearing bulletproof vests, and they go to events not knowing what they’re going to encounter, and they’re doing it to keep everyone safe.”

He said officers behaved in an “exemplary fashion” but were confronted by “a very drunk man armed with two very dangerous weapons”. They then confronted him exiting the house with a very large firearm.

“They would have been horrified,” he added. He sentenced Stacey to 12 months in prison.