'Vicious' robber jailed for over five years after holding machete to throat of man during 'case of mistaken identity'

Tobias Maylott, 28, demanded to know where drugs and money were from the man before issuing a chilling warning, saying: ‘Your missus and kids are dead.’

But Portsmouth Crown Court heard it was a case of mistaken identity after Maylott, who was with a knife-wielding accomplice, had targeted the wrong person at an address in Sedgley Close, Southsea, on July 24. The court heard the victim was outside cleaning his car when he spotted two ‘very aggressive’ males but carried on polishing his car before he was ambushed.

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‘The next thing he was aware he was thrown face down on the bonnet. He saw the male that threw him put something to the back of his neck. He established it to be a machete,’ prosecutor Martyn Booth said in what he described as a ‘case of mistaken identity’.

‘(Maylott) was saying, “Where’s the drugs? Where’s the money? I know where you live”.’

The victim replied: ‘I’ve got no money or drugs.’

Mr Booth said the second male, who was clutching a knife, then threatened to stab the man unless he told them ‘what they want to know’. The prosecutor added: ‘(The victim) was hit over the head with the machete leaving a cut above his right eye. He was spun around on the bonnet with the machete pushed into his stomach.’

The male subsequently had the machete pushed menacingly against his neck.

Meanwhile, the second attacker, who has never been captured for the incident, threatened the victim’s friend who was present at the scene, ordering him: ‘Open the boot and doors.’ He then attempted to stab the friend saying, ‘I’m going to kill you.’

Maylott made further demands to know where the money and drugs were, before adding: ‘Your missus and kids are dead.’

Mr Booth added: ‘The complainant went upstairs (into the house). He was plainly in shock and was concerned and (told his partner) they had to leave the flat.’

The incident was captured on camera from the car and was played to the court. The images were circulated among local officers before an anti-social behaviour officer identified Maylott.

The court was also told of a second incident a week later involving Maylott targeting his ex-girlfriend who heard ‘banging’ in the kitchen before finding the defendant in a ‘temper’. Mr Booth said: ‘He lunged and grabbed her round the throat and held her neck tightly for a few seconds.’

The woman managed to get Maylott outside before she dashed back inside and locked the doors with Maylott seen brandishing a hammer outside. A male and female neighbour attempted to bring calm before the defendant warned the man: ‘Come any closer and see what happens.’

Police arrived at the scene and cornered Maylott who refused to drop the weapon before he was tasered.

Judge Richard Shepherd said ‘vicious’ Maylott committed the offences during a ‘spiral’ where ‘everything was going wrong’ amid heavy drug use and had underlying mental health difficulties. Maylott, who admitted attempted robbery, possession of a weapon, common assault, criminal damage and a public order offence, was jailed for five and a half years. A restraining order of five years was also imposed.