A conviction in Hull Crown Court has revealed a tense and threatening incident involving a man named Daniel Wheal, 35, who was made redundant from his job just before Christmas last year. Wheal held two senior bosses captive for approximately 15 to 20 minutes in a conference room, brandishing a shard of glass and making threats that “at least one of us is not getting out of here.” The meeting took place on December 23, 2022, at the Village Hotel in west Hull, where Wheal learned of his redundancy after returning from a two-week sick leave.

Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, prosecuting the case, provided details about the confrontation, highlighting that Wheal reacted with increasing aggression after being informed of his dismissal. He smashed a glass on a table during the confrontation and locked the door, preventing the men from leaving. Throughout the ordeal, he made alarming remarks and exhibited violent behaviour, alarming his bosses who felt genuinely threatened during the encounter.

After Wheal’s aggressive outburst, one of the bosses contacted the police while Wheal telephoned his girlfriend to express his intentions. Minutes before police intervention, he ceased his aggression and waited silently for their arrival. When the authorities did arrive, Wheal resisted arrest and had to be subdued with a Taser.

Wheal later expressed remorse for his actions, admitting to feeling “taken by surprise” by the redundancy, and described his behaviour as out of character. Judge John Thackray KC described Wheal’s threats as “chilling” and noted the lasting impact of the incident on the victims, who reported feelings of anxiety and sleeplessness following the confrontation. On July 27, Wheal was sentenced to two years in prison for two counts of false imprisonment, along with charges of possessing an offensive weapon and causing criminal damage.

In a separate incident, Lee Borda, 44, was sentenced to 16 months in connection with a series of burglaries that occurred on his birthday, just days after his release from prison. Borda entered several commercial establishments in Plymouth, including two popular late-night eateries, on December 23 and 24 last year. At Goodbody’s Café, staff discovered a smashed entrance and a missing £250 after Borda’s early morning break-in, captured on CCTV.

Prosecutor Feleena Grosvenor detailed a pattern of burglaries committed by Borda, who has an extensive criminal record with 62 convictions for 120 offences, including numerous theft-related crimes. He had recently been released from prison on December 10, following a pattern of short cycles of imprisonment due to various offences.

In his mitigation, Borda’s advocate, Nick Lewin, revealed that the death of Borda’s mother had a significant emotional impact on him, contributing to his deteriorating behaviour and struggle with addiction. Judge Matthew Turner acknowledged Borda’s difficult background but highlighted that the persistent nature of his criminal activities warranted serious judicial intervention.

As Borda received his sentence, he expressed a desire for help, expressing feelings of frustration regarding the lack of support available for individuals released from short-term sentences. He will serve half of the 16-month sentence before being eligible for release but will remain under supervision conditions as part of his parole.

Source: Noah Wire Services