Machete-wielding man convicted over Banbury incident caught on video

A man caught on video wielding a machete in Thames Valley Police has been convicted. Adil Taseem, 22, was filmed in an incident that was widely shared on social media.

On Saturday, May 27, Taseem entered a business in Church Lane armed with a machete along with another male. He then left with the weapon in full view before hiding it down his jogging bottoms and the pair ran off.

Police arrested Taseem on Sunday, May 28. He was charged the next day.

Read more: M40 and A34 roadworks in Oxfordshire this week

Taseem, 22, of Manor Road, Banbury, admitted one count of possession of a knife in a public place and one count of using threating, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or to provoke, unlawful violence at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday (May 30).

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on June 29. Investigating officer PC Neil Wheeler said: “Thames Valley Police will never tolerate knife crime of all types on its patch.

“After becoming aware of the video of Adil Taseem with a machete in the town centre, we quickly identified and arrested him, and now he’s been convicted. I hope the speedy nature of our investigation and justice being served provides a clear warning to anyone considering carrying a knife in public.