'Dangerous' Gosport man jailed for over four years after attempted robbery and knife attack
23-year-old pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and wounding with intent
A “dangerous” man from Gosport has been jailed after a 55-year-old man suffered head and hand injuries in an attempted robbery.
David Ward, 23, of Queens Road in Gosport, was sentenced to four years and six months in jail after admitting to multiple offences including attempted robbery and wounding with intent at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday, May 11.
The offences occurred on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 in Burnett Road, Gosport, with police stating the outcome “could have been significantly worse” for the victim. After further police enquires, Ward was arrested and charged. The 55-year-old victim has since recovered.
Officer in the case Detective Constable George Aram said: “Ward acted without thought. Making that decision to pick up a bladed weapon creates the very real risk that you could kill or seriously injure someone. This case makes that shocking reality clear. The victim in this case survived the injuries inflicted by Ward, but the outcome could have been significantly worse.
“We regularly make proactive efforts to target knife carriers and remove weapons from the streets. This work won’t stop, and we hope that anyone thinking of carrying recognises that there are serious consequences both for themselves and others when they make that decision to pick up a weapon.”
“A dangerous man is now off the streets and our community is all the safer as a result.”
Ward pleaded guilty to the following charges at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday, June 16, 2025:
- Attempted robbery of a 55-year-old man on Burnett Road, Gosport, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024
- Wounding a 55-year-old man with intent on Burnett Road, Gosport, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024
- Two counts of criminal damage on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 where Ward damaged roof tiles at two properties on Arundel Road, Gosport
- Possession of a controlled Class B drug on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 on Arundel Road, Gosport
A second man from Gosport was acquitted of attempted robbery and wounding with intent at the same court on Friday, March 13, 2026.