Cops swoop on man who had baton in back of van

A MAN with a “serious” criminal record was snared by police in Dundee after a tip-off from a colleague that he had an offensive weapon in his van.

Kelvin Swann, 53, was travelling from Fife over the Tay Road Bridge on August 12 when a police car followed him to Dundee after receiving intelligence that he had a spring-loaded extendable baton in his boot.

Swann, of Miltonbank Crescent, St Andrews, was pulled over at the Apex Hotel, where the discovery was made.

A series of police vehicles swooped on the scene and eyewitnesses later told the Tele that forensics officers could be seen searching through Swann’s van.

Swann has now appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of having an offensive weapon in a public place.

Fiscal depute Sue Ruta told the court: “The matter came to light when officers received intelligence that the accused would be travelling over the Tay Road Bridge in a Vauxhall Corsa van containing an extendable baton and potentially a canister of spray.

“Due to that information police took up a marked vantage point at the bridge entrance on the Fife side at about 1.20pm. The accused was spotted travelling northwards.

“He was followed by police officers and was stopped at the Apex Hotel by four police officers who advised him of the reason he had been stopped.

“He openly admitted that he was in possession of an extendable baton in the rear of his vehicle.

“An 18-inch spring-loaded baton was concealed in the boot.

“The accused was arrested by officers and taken into police custody and charged. The accused made no reply.”

The court heard that Swann had shown the baton to a colleague and had it in his car for a couple of days, though no information has been revealed on where Swann worked.

The colleague tipped off police that he would be driving over the Tay Road Bridge with the baton in his possession on August 12.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond noted that Swann had a “serious record” and called for reports. Sentence was deferred to December 14.