No jail term for ‘lucky’ man caught with a knife

JUDGE SAYS FEAR OF GANG IS NO EXCUSE FOR CARRYING A WEAPON

A TEENAGER caught with a knife said he had it for protection from a gang, a court has heard.

Louis Hegyi, then aged 19, armed himself and wore a stab vest after a close friend was knifed in October and he believed the gang which carried out the attack was coming for him next.

He claimed the group was putting him under pressure to commit robberies and burglaries on their behalf - just as they had done to his friend.

However, he was arrested when he was stopped and searched a few weeks later on Friday, November 13.

Hegyi, who has since turned 20, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to admit possession of a blade and of a knuckle-duster.

Prosecutor Suky Singh told the court Hegyi was arrested in Aylestone Road, Leicester, when a police officer confiscated the knife, which had an 8 to 9-inch blade.

He was also carrying a skull-shaped knuckle-duster, although the prosecution accepted he had received it as a gift and was using it as a key-ring and did not realise it was classified as an offensive weapon.

One of the gang members was said to live in his hostel in Belvoir Drive, Aylestone, the court heard.

His solicitor Kate Nield told the court he claimed those who had attacked his friend were pushing him to commit crimes for them.

She said: “This is what happened to his friend. He also said ‘no’ to these people and he was stabbed and nearly lost his life.

“Mr Hegyi became more and more anxious, initially buying a stab vest and then, a week before he was stopped by the police and arrested, the knife.”

Ms Nield added: “This is a young man who is capable of rehabilitation.”

District judge Nick Watson told him: “You say you feared for your life and that is why you had a stab vest and a knife.

“(Even) if that is true, it can be no excuse.

“The law makes it clear that is not a reason for carrying a knife. People are killed by knives every day.”

The judge accepted a probation officer’s recommendation that the defendant, who has no previous convictions or cautions, should attend 36 hours of rehabilitation sessions with the service.

He was put on a curfew between 7pm and 7am for the next four months. This will be monitored by an electronic tag.

The judge also ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £128 and added: “You have been very lucky not to go to custody today.”