Knifeman avoids jail for cheeky move
AMAN caught with a knife hidden between his buttocks has been spared jail.
Remi McDonagh was stopped by police for ‘acting suspiciously’ outside a block of flats in Macclesfield, a court heard.
But as they went to search him officers were stunned by the 29-year-old crook’s confession: “I don’t have any drugs but I do have a knife between my bum cheeks.”
Police then extracted the weapon, a black and brass handled folding knife with a four inch blade.
At Macclesfield magistrates’ court on June 21, McDonagh, of Oscoft Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, admitted possession of a knife in a public place.
Magistrates sentenced him to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said at 9.30am on May 27 police were on patrol on Fence Avenue, Macclesfield, when they saw two men acting suspiciously and a known drug addict walking away from flats on Lime Grove.
She said: “The men ran and the police were able to catch up with McDonagh, who was arrested under the Misuse of Drugs act.
“As officers began their search McDonagh said to them: “I don’t have any drugs but I do have a knife between my bum cheeks.
“They extracted the weapon, a black and brass handled folding knife with four inch blade.”
The court heard that McDonagh had been before the courts nine times for 17 offences, including a violent assault for which he received a suspended prison sentence.
Lyndsey Brown, defending, said McDonagh suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
She said: “The defendant was in a strange place. His expartner lived at the address.
“He was trying to reconcile their relationship. Things didn’t go well, so his brother took him fishing. He then went back to the flat.
“He doesn’t know the second male who ran away.
“When he saw the police he put his hand in his pockets and realised he had a knife.
“He then decided on the spur of the moment to put it where you’ve heard already.”
Sentencing magistrate Anthony Bostock said: “We consider the fact you were in possession of a knife a very serious offence and we are also concerned by the way it was being concealed.”
After McDonagh’s arrest the incident became a source of humour when police tweeted a picture of the knife and used the hashtag #theCHEEKofit.