A young man shouted “I’ve not stabbed anyone or anything” after legging it from police officers in Chippenham, a court heard.
Angus Corrie, 19, appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced for possession of a knife and being drunk and disorderly in a public place following his conviction on 2 March.
It was the Crown’s case that the defendant, of Queens Crescent, was seen throwing a bicycle at a bus shelter, kicking out towards vehicles, walking in the road and shouting and swearing in the Park Lane area of Chippenham on 10 November last year.
His behaviour sparked a 999 call to police at around 6.30pm and officers attended.
The responding officers located intoxicated Corrie in the middle of the road near St Paul’s House. When they attempted to speak to him, he made off on foot along Marshfield Road and under the railway bridges towards Bridge Roundabout.
Detaining him a short distance later, he was said to be screaming and shouting. One phrase noted by the prosecutor was: “You can’t do f**k all, I’ve not stabbed anyone or anything”.
A black-handled lock knife was found on his person and he was subsequently arrested.
In custody, he told officers he accepted he was drunk. Adding that he was upset about a private matter and had drunk a few drinks. He said they had affected him more than he thought. Corrie also stated he did not know it was illegal to carry a lock knife.
The court heard he has two previous convictions for five offences, but nothing similar. He was subject to a youth rehabilitation order at the time of these offences.
“He’s getting help with his mental health, which has been seriously detrimental to his behaviour”, defence solicitor Clare Gooding told the court.
Adding that Corrie did not think it was an offence to carry a lock knife. She said he was naive and suggested he would not have knowledge of knife laws due to his age.
Sparing the defendant a prison term, District Judge Joanna Dickens said: “Possession of knives, particularly for your generation and men is incredibly serious.
“Young men are dying. Things go wrong and they end up getting wounded and killed or end up wounding and killing.
“I’m not going to send you to prison, but the starting point is six months in prison. The circumstances in which you were carrying the knife were concerning, you were drunk.
“This is a once-only chance; I’m going to impose a community order. There is hope for you to go away from this kind of crime.
“If there are any other offences for carrying a knife, you’ll have to go to prison, that’s the rule so this really is a once-only chance.”
Judge Dickens imposed a 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £95 victim surcharge. She also ordered the destruction of the lock knife.
