Teen found with knife and drugs
PICKED UP AS POLICE SOUGHT GANG IN PARK
A TEENAGER was arrested after police had been chasing masked men wielding hockey sticks and a machete in a park.
Oficers responding reports of gang activity pulled over a van in London Road – and a group of men fled into Victoria Park in Leicester.
A teenager, who said he just happened to be passing through, was arrested and charged with possession of a lock-knife and a small quantity of cannabis.
Kazi Ahmed, 19, who admitted the offences, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court and claimed he had been buying cannabis in the park and then heading somewhere to smoke the drugs at 9.15pm on March 14, when he saw the gang flee across the park.
He said one of them dropped something – which turned out to be a machete – and he was arrested after going over to pick it up to see what it was.
Sukhy Basi, prosecuting, told the court: “Police received reports of males with hockey sticks and their heads covered in scarves. They received a message a blue van was involved and people had been seen getting out of the van.
“The officers were near the Old Horse pub when they pulled a blue van over and they saw males running from the van into Victoria Park.
“The defendant was one of the males detained by the police.”
Ahmed, who had dropped the machete before the police approached him, handed over the cannabis straight away when asked if he had anything he shouldn’t have.
When the police searched him they found the knife in his coat. He said: “I forgot about that”.
Mr Basi said: “The defendant gave a full account, stating he was not one of the group that ran through the park.”
“He described seeing the men running and throwing something away and went to see what it was.”
He told the police he spent more than £60 a week on cannabis.
Prakash Morai, representing Ahmed, told the court his client was a student of Arabic on a seven-year course and had no previous convictions.
He said the drugs Ahmed had with him were for personal use.
Mr Morai said: “He gave a full and frank account at interview, accepting full responsibility for the offences.”
District Judge Nick Watson told Ahmed, of Roslyn Street, Highfields, Leicester: “The sentencing guidelines make it clear those who carry knives should expect prison sentences. I accept the knife wasn’t brandished or used and you have no previous convictions.
“I will accept you were not part of the group the police were pursuing.
“There’s a reasonable prospect of your rehabilitation so I can suspend the sentence.”
Ahmed was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. He was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 court costs and a £122 victim surcharge.