A Sanctuary Housing worker who stabbed a Wiltshire tenant with a machete in his own home days after carrying out a gas check has been jailed.
Akiel Jacobs had attended the home in Rendells Court, Devizes, to inspect the boiler on 9 May 2024 – but returned unannounced on 31 May to rob the occupants at knifepoint.
During the incident, a man – aged in his 30s – sustained a stab wound to the face. He was treated at the scene by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance medics, who arrived in a helicopter.
The casualty was rushed to Great Western Hospital for further care. The injury sliced his salivary glands, which took several months to heal.
The 31-year-old father’s only connection to the victim was through Sanctuary Housing, who had employed him as a gas engineer.
At Salisbury Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the robbery of £2,150 in cash and the possession of a machete in a public place. A charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent will lie on file.
Jacobs, of Colwell School Close, Gloucester, was jailed for seven years on 3 January. It comes just weeks after the birth of his baby, believed to be his third child.
In 2018, the defendant appeared in court after he was caught with £200 worth of heroin in his anus. At the time, the court heard that he had a drug addiction.
Following this conviction, Jacobs trained to become a gas engineer in 2021 – and was later employed by Sanctuary.
The housing association confirmed that the defendant was sacked immediately after they were made aware of the robbery at the property in Devizes.
A spokesperson added: “Our customers’ safety is our priority and we carry out the required checks on all employees who access our customers homes.
“We continue to provide our customer with support following this incident.”
