Man, 23, jailed for three years for online knife selling in the New Forest

Man, 23, jailed for three years for online knife selling in the New Forest

An ‘overwhelming package of evidence’ has today (Friday 25 October) led to the imprisonment of a 23-year-old Totton man for the marketing of knives in the New Forest area.

Stefan Petrescu, of High Street, was jailed for three years at Southampton Crown Court today (Friday 25 October).

During a previous hearing at the same court, on Wednesday 4 October, Petrescu had pleaded guilty to one count of marketing combat knife by selling, one count of possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid / gas / electrical incapacitation device, and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

The conviction and sentencing follows an investigation into reports of the unlawful selling of knives and other prohibited weapons and firearms in the New Forest via social media platforms.

Sentencing Petrescu, the judge said, “These were ferocious and vicious weapons, which you were willing to supply to anyone, and could have been used to kill or harm people.

“One of the aggravating factors here was the use of drill music in the videos, including a track entitled, ‘Ready For War'."

Speaking after today’s sentencing, Sergeant Andy Gwyer, of the New Forest’s Priority Crime Team, said: “I’m very pleased with the outcome of the investigation and the sentence handed down to Petrescu.

“The role of the Priority Crime Team is to tackle those who are committing the most harm and disruption to the lives of people living and working in the New Forest, and that is what has been achieved today.