Derbyshire man escapes jail after telling army cadet he would be shot by Taliban

A man has escaped jail after telling a young army cadet who was selling Poppies he would be shot by the Taliban.

Adelso Saws, of Hillcrest Drive, Kilburn, was charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoking violence following the incident in King Street, Belper, on October 25 last year.

Saws, 34, was found guilty of the offence when he appeared at Chesterfield magistrates’ court on Monday.

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He was handed a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Saws was also told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, £300 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

The teenage cadet and a friend were helping to raise money for the Royal British Legion (RBL) in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.

After Saws was sentenced, an RBL spokesman said: “The safety of our Poppy collectors is our utmost priority.

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“Although such incidents are rare, we are shocked and saddened that a group of Poppy collectors were treated in this manner.

“We are thankful to every Poppy collector who gives up their time. The money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes directly to the RBL’s welfare work, helping the British armed forces and veterans and their families to live on to a more hopeful future.”

Speaking after the incident, Superintendent Jim Allen, of Derbyshire police, said: “It was in appallingly bad taste.”