Portsmouth removal man threatened with an 'air rifle' and has van smashed up with 'sword'

Oscar Wheatland, from Portsmouth, had been called to do a straightforward removal job on Monday morning in Bishop’s Waltham.

But instead he was sworn at and chased by an unhappy family member who threatened: ‘You will be dead in a minute.’

Footage recorded by the 22-year-old filmed the ordeal show the aggressive man using what is believed to be a sword, smashing Oscar’s van windows and slashing the tyres.

Oscar told The News: ‘I turned up at 11.20am and said hello to the family and the man just lunged at me and swore. He chased me and I couldn’t get to my van. He kept standing in the way and chasing me when I tried to get to my van.

‘I was absolutely terrified.’

Oscar told The News that he ran to the main road and flagged down a passing driver to help him call the police after his phone battery died.

He added: ‘I am really worried by it all. I was just doing a job.

‘I usually go to jobs on my own but I am quite worried now.’

A Go Fund Me page, set up by a friend, has raised £235 for the repairs Oscar had to make to his van so he could leave the cul-de-sac.

SEE ALSO: Tributes paid to lifelong Portsmouth FC fan Paul Nicol, who died from Covid-19

Police confirmed a 43-year-old man from Bishop’s Waltham has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a firearm without a certificate and having a prohibited weapon.

A number of weapons were seized by officers. The suspect was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, affray and producing class B drugs.

A police spokesman said: ‘We were called to an incident at 11.52am on Monday to reports of a man brandishing an offensive weapon at an address in Bishops Waltham.

‘Upon arrival, a number of offensive weapons were located at a property – these were subsequently seized by officers.

‘He was released on conditional bail until Monday, March 1, pending further enquiries.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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