A man from Penrith was sentenced yesterday (17 June) following an incident at a takeaway in Penrith in April 2026.
Blake Stuart, 32, of Skelton, Penrith was sentenced to 22 months in prison for intimidating a witness, threats to damage property and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
On 1 Jan 2026, Stuart visited a takeaway on Middlegate in Penrith where his card was declined. He attempted to take the food and leave but was stopped by staff. He was arrested by officers from Eden’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, interviewed for the offence and placed on police bail with conditions.
A further incident occurred on 12 April 2026 when officers received a 999-call reporting a man had visited the same shop and threatened ‘tell your boss to drop the charges’ while producing what the caller thought to be a firearm, before making off from the scene.
Enquiries carried out established the man to be Stuart and CCTV showed him outside the shop with a firearm in his pocket.
Stuart was arrested later that evening. The weapon was found to be a BB gun.
DC Martyn Smith, Eden CID, said: “This type of behaviour will not be tolerated in our communities.
“Many of us wouldn’t know the difference between an imitation firearm and a real gun, it is understandable that both can cause fear and harm to people if confronted with one in such a way.
“Stuart’s actions had a profound effect on the victim, and I hope the sentence handed out at court can provide some closure that he is now behind bars for his crimes.”