A dad found with a medieval-style mace capable of "caving someone's head in" claimed the device was a dog toy.

Unemployed Daniel Wavell, 21, of Newington Close, Southchurch, was found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon, however, at Basildon Crown Court.

The trial judge told Wavell to stop behaving like a hooligan and start putting his five-month-old daughter first. He was sentenced to a 140-hour community punishment order.

Published Tuesday, January 28, 2003

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