A Solihull man described as being of 'good character' has been fined after police discovered him carrying a knuckleduster in Solihull, a court has heard.
Dylan Connolly, a 21-year-old warehouse operative from Fordbridge, Solihull, was found in possession of the weapon on Perch Avenue on April 17 this year. Officers stopped him and made the discovery before taking him into custody.
Court Proceedings
Connolly pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, May 12.
Prosecuting, Ms Robinson said: 'On April 17, police constables stopped the defendant in Solihull and found the knuckleduster in his pocket. The defendant was arrested and taken into custody. He is a man of good character.'
She added: 'The weapon is made with the sole purpose to cause injury. The crown makes a deprivation order for the knuckleduster.'
Mitigation
Mitigating, Ms Begum said: 'He has entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity. He is a man of previous good character. He is a 21-year-old and is in full-time employment as a warehouse operative.'
She explained: 'It [the knuckleduster] was not used, it was not threatened, it was not brandished. He accepts he shouldn't have had it. He returned home from work, he had worn the jacket and forgotten he had it. He accepts there is no reason to have it. He no longer has those items in his possession, either at home or in public.'
Sentencing
The court heard there were no aggravating factors in his case. The chair of the magistrates told Connolly: 'You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Quite rightly, the public has an expectation that people who carry weapons will be punished. You have a stable home, a stable job and are of previous good character. We see this as a one off.'
He was ordered to pay a total of £831 to the court, including a £533 fine. 'We won't be giving it you back, not that you want it back anyway,' the chair said. A forfeiture order was made, meaning the weapon will now be destroyed.
