Gosport man hiding in bush with knife '˜feared third world war'

A PARANOID schizophrenic who '˜feared a third world war' could erupt was caught armed with a BB gun and a knife hiding in a bush.
Brookers Field in GosportBrookers Field in Gosport
Brookers Field in Gosport

Kevin Hazzard was spotted crouching down by an off-duty police officer in Brookers Field, Gosport.

The convicted robber was dressed entirely in black, had sunglasses on and had a BB gun tucked under his arm. A Stanley knife was hidden in a pouch in his vest.

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A rucksack Hazzard was carrying contained scissors, dust masks, BB gun pellets, binoculars and a gas mask.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard the 35-year-old is obsessed with the military and felt inadequate as he did not follow in his father’s footsteps serving in the forces.

Hazzard has a troubled history of poor mental health and had stopped taking his medication.

Sentencing, judge Sarah Munro QC said: ‘You are obsessed with the military and you have a morbid fear of a third world war.

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‘It’s probable that around the time of this offence you had stopped taking your medication.’

The judge imposed a 16-month prison sentence suspended for two years with a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months and a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Hazzard, of Sunningdale Close, Gosport, is considered a high-risk to the public.

The judge handed him a suspended term so he could be treated to reduce the risk.

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Judge Munro added: ‘In the current climate your behaviour on June 22 created a very substantial risk of a violent situation developing.

‘I can only speculate what might have occurred had you not been found by a police officer but instead somebody who wanted to confront you with violence.

‘Had you been threatened you could have threatened and injured others with serious consequences.’

The judge praised the constable who saw Hazzard.

James Newton-Price, for Hazzard, said: ‘The purpose of those two items was this: he was searching for cannabis plants in order to cut them up and smoke what was left.’

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Hazzard pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a bladed article.

He has a previous conviction for robbery and possession of a firearm where he robbed a shop with a shotgun.

He was jailed last year for possession of a bladed article in Mantle Close, Gosport, on February 2.