Police find ‘Nazi man cave’ filled with weapons after arresting Bear Grylls fan carrying axe and arrows

Daniel Joyner said there was a possibility society would “fail” and he wanted to be prepared

Police found a “man cave” filled with weapons and a Nazi flag after a man carrying an axe and arrows was found walking down a road wearing a gas mask.

Police arrested Daniel Joyner, 30, after tracking him down when they heard the sound of wood being chopped.

They discovered Bear Grylls fan Joyner sitting next to a small tent, with a bow, arrows, axes, cut throat razors and a machete, Isle of Wight Magistrates were told this week.

When they went to Joyner’s house, just 400 yards away, they uncovered more weapons, according to Anne Smout, prosecuting.

In a shed, which Joyner called his “man cave”, officers found a Nazi flag pinned to the ceiling and an English Defence League poster in the window, along with a British Army uniform and a Samurai sword.

Pictures of Joyner posing with his weapons were found on his mobile phone.

He told officers he collected military items as his hobby was “survival” and had been going to the woods near the cycle track to camp for a few days.

He said there was a possibility that society would “fail” and he wanted to be prepared, like American doomsday “preppers”, said Mrs Smout.

He said he had the axes and machetes for cutting wood and the cut throat razors for cutting rope and said a gas mask he was found with was due to a report of a gas leak.

Joyner’s lawyer Liz Miller said her client was a fan of war films and collected the items as his great-grandfather served in the armed forces.

He had since referred himself to a drug and alcohol misuse team.

She said: “He spent a lot of money on weapons as he was a collector. His shed was his ‘man cave’.

Everything was kept under lock and key.

Miller continued: “He does like Bear Grylls and he does like to be extra safe.

“This was a mistake from his point of view rather than him trying to cause trouble.”

Joyner was today sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, fined £25 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 surcharge.

Magistrates ordered the destruction of the weapons found at the tent, but he will be allowed to keep the items found in his shed.

Joyner told the court he planned to sell the collection.

Daily Mirror