Sheffield man called 'Ebenezer Good' caught with 'machete, axe and hacksaw' near Tesco Express

A homeless man has been jailed after he was spotted writing “Islam in the UK” on a wall while he had a machete, an axe and a hacksaw in his rucksack.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Sheffield Crown Court heard today, Friday, May 29, how Ebenezer Good, aged 62, of no fixed abode, was seen by a passer-by on Whitham Road, Crookes, Sheffield, writing graffiti on a wall.

Tim Savage, prosecuting, said: “About 2.30pm a member of the public saw the defendant near a Tesco Express, on Whitham Road, at Crookes, and he had with him a rucksack with a hacksaw and he was seen writing on a wall ‘Islam in the UK’ and police were called.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Officers searched Good, according to Mr Savage, and he was found with a hacksaw, a machete and an axe wrapped in his rucksack during the incident on February 17.

Tesco Express.Tesco Express.
Tesco Express.

Mr Savage added Good also sang a song about killing police while he was being taken to the police station and the defendant told officers, ‘You will see when I am armed every dog has its day’.

Good, who has previous convictions including six offences for possessing offensive weapons or bladed articles, pleaded guilty to causing damage and admitted three counts relating to the illegal possession of the hacksaw, machete and axe in a public place.

Clare Walsh, defending, said: “Mr Good was effectively doing some graffiti and items were seen in his bag and no one was threatened with them.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added the items in his bag are tools reflecting his way of life because he prefers to be in rural areas and to avoid people.

Ms Walsh said Good claims to be bi-polar and he uses recreational drugs to calm himself down.

She added: “This was a man who was not carrying these weapons as a threat to anyone and they were described many times as tools.”

Judge Peter Kelson QC raised concerns the offences were committed near Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire and Weston Park hospitals where vulnerable people may have been present.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “A man walking the streets of Sheffield in broad daylight with these dreadful weapons using provocative behaviour by his graffiti is troubling.”

Judge Kelson sentenced Good to three-years of custody.