A judge labelled a man’s reason for having a knife in Chippenham ‘absolute nonsense’.
Joshua Watts kicked off when he was refused service at Rivo Lounge for being too intoxicated at about 10pm on 15 July this year, resulting in the police being called to the scene.
The 32-year-old was repeatedly encouraged to leave the area by officers but he became more aggressive – shouting and swearing in the street. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
A search of his person and bag was carried out, revealing a five-inch-long Japanese chef’s knife and a small amount of the class B drug ketamine.
The defendant, formerly of Corsham but now living in Windmill Lane, Langport, Somerset, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, possession of ketamine and being drunk and disorderly when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Friday, 19 August).
Mark Glendenning, defending, said his client’s circumstances were “unfortunate” because the “keen chef” had been using the knife at a barbecue and was simply on his way home.
But District Judge Joanna Dickens interrupted the solicitor, stating: “I don’t believe that, I’m going to be clear about that… it’s absolute nonsense”.
Continuing, she added: “Carrying a knife is incredibly serious. People die all the time because people carry knives, people that carry knives often say they have no intention of using it.”
She imposed a two-month GPS monitored curfew on Watts, meaning he must remain at home between 8pm and 7am daily. He must also complete a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was ordered to pay a £114 surcharge, but no costs were awarded due to his lack of means.
