A PENHILL man was spotted drawing his bow and arrow in the car park of a Stratton Co-operative store.

Matthew Softley, 47, of Penhill Drive, has been given a 16 week prison sentence suspended for a year by Swindon magistrates after he admitted possession of a weapon in a public place and being in possession of amphetamine.

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Picture: CPS WESSEX

He was photographed in the car park of the Hyde Road Co-op on Thursday, September 19, apparently drawing back the string of his bow.

Reacting to the sentence, PC Michael Gassner said: “The use of weapons on the streets of Swindon and Wiltshire are never to be tolerated.

“We will always pursue a prosecution if anyone attempts to flout the law in regard to knives and, in this case, a bow and arrow."

Softley must pay a £122 victim surcharge. Separately, he admitted breaching the terms of a community order by failing to attend an induction appointment. He was ordered to pay £60 costs.