A man in Telford attempted to carjack police using an imitation firearm crafted from a paper bag, resulting in his arrest after a bizarre series of events.
In a surprising turn of events on February 22, 2023, in Telford, Shropshire, a 37-year-old man named Matthew Sylvester attempted to carjack police officers using a weapon that was quite literally a paper bag. Yes, you read that right—a brown paper bag.
What could have been just another Tuesday evening quickly escalated into chaos when Sylvester’s bizarre actions drew the attention of law enforcement, ultimately leading to his arrest for multiple offenses.
What Happened in Telford
On that fateful evening, Sylvester was reported to have tried breaking into a local shop using a shopping trolley.
Witnesses were taken aback when he exposed himself to staff members who were cashing up for the night. As soon as he caught wind that police were en route, he wrapped a jumper around his face and fashioned an imitation firearm from a Primark bag.
At around 10 PM, he spotted a police patrol car rolling into the parking lot and charged at it, brandishing his makeshift weapon.
Witnesses later confirmed that Sylvester aimed the bag at the officers and even attempted to kick the police vehicle while trying to open the boot. Officers PC Dan Arthur and PC George Oliver didn’t hesitate; they bravely exited their vehicle to confront Sylvester after a brief foot chase. It was only after they apprehended him that they realized the ‘gun’ was nothing more than a folded paper bag.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Sylvester was arrested and charged with a slew of offenses, including two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause distress, possession of Class A drugs, and attempted burglary. During his trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to all charges.
On Friday, he was sentenced to 19 months in prison. Recorder Anthony Warner didn’t hold back in his remarks about the severity of the incident. He pointed out, “You spoke of a gun and the paper you had shaped certainly looked like a gun, and that would have been very frightening to the police officers and anybody else who was there.”
Background and Context
The court learned that Sylvester, who has a remarkable 34 previous convictions for 84 offenses, was on license at the time of this incident, having recently been released from prison for a similar crime. His defense attorney argued that Sylvester had been homeless and going through a “delusional period,” likely made worse by cocaine use. This context sheds light on the complex issues of mental health and substance abuse that often intersect with criminal behavior.
Chief Inspector Matt Sanders from West Mercia Police praised the bravery and professionalism of the responding officers, stating, “Sylvester’s actions were calculated, going to great lengths to ensure officers were called to the scene.” He emphasized that no officer should ever face violence while performing their duties and commended the swift actions that resulted in Sylvester’s arrest without any injuries to the officers involved.
