Carrying a knuckle-duster and pool cue to use in self-defence has landed a Colchester man in jail.
Karl Hartley stopped at a friend's home to pick up the items after being threatened by two men with a large chain. But when quizzed by police, he refused to divulge any details of the friend, a court heard.
Hartley's admission of intent to use the weapons, and his claim he would not comply with a community order, meant Colchester magistrates had no option but to send him to prison yesterday.
He will serve two months for both the charges of possessing an offensive weapon, which he admitted.
Craig Levine, prosecuting, said Hartley, of Wilson Marriage Road, Colchester, was stopped by police in Harwich Road on September 20.
The 20-year-old had a knuckle-duster and the end section of a pool cue with him, and said he had them for safety reasons after being confronted by the two men earlier.
Mark Francis, mitigating, said: "He took these weapons to defend himself with. They were intended purely for defence against people he thought were going to attack him."
Published Thursday, February 24, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article