A Covid test centre worker was caught with a knuckleduster after a drugs search in Lyneham.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (27 October), 19-year-old Matthew Tiger Wood pleaded guilty to a single count of possessing an offensive weapon.
Crown prosecutor Pauline Lambert said police attended a car park off Slessor Road on 27 July this year after they received an anonymous tip-off about two males smoking cannabis.
On their arrival, officers found the defendant, of Britannia Crescent, Lyneham, and his passenger in a vehicle and proceeded to carry out a Misuse of Drugs Act search.
While no drugs were discovered, an officer did find a black metal knuckleduster in his vehicle – concealed in what was described as a man bag.
During an interview in custody, Ms Lambert said that Wood told officers “he liked to twirl it around his finger and show it to friends”, though he added that he did not know it was illegal.
Solicitor Richard Williams somewhat contradicted his claims, stating that his client had taken the weapon off a friend because he didn’t want him to get into trouble.
He said Wood was “relaxing and chilling” in his car, and “not going anything unlawful at the time”.
The court heard that he lives at home with his parents and has a job “he enjoys” – working on a mobile Covid testing unit which moves around south-west England.
Magistrates branded the offence “serious”, but stepped outside their sentencing guidelines and fined Wood £433.
He must also pay a £43 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs. The court ordered forfeiture and destruction of the item.
