A MAN has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after smashing the windows of a bus with a blade.

In the early hours of Thursday 15 December 2016, Damien Chorley, 32, attempted to board a bus on St Michael’s Road in the city, asking the driver if he could travel for free. When the driver refused he pulled out a blade and smashed a number of windows on the bus.

Chorley admitted one count of affray and one of criminal damage.

He denied a third offence of being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Mr Chorley was found guilty of the third offence at Salisbury crown court last Tuesday and jailed for a total of two and a half years. He was also ordered to pay a £170 surcharge.

Investigating officer Beverley Sargent said: “This case has involved a lot of hard work by the team in order to bring Mr Chorley to justice. He was identified as a suspect early on but we weren’t able to find him. He was eventually tracked down and arrested in February.

This case took a long time to get to court because Chorley breached his tag conditions on a number of occasions, and also left the county.”

Salisbury Sector Inspector Pete Sparrow said: “The sentence certainly sends a message to everyone who carries a blade or other weapons on their person, this will not be tolerated.”