Teen found with amphetamine and knife after police go to crash
A Washington teenager who picked up a knife while pottering in his grandmother’s shed was caught with it in his pocket after a car crash.
Tyler Wood, 18, used the broken blade while dabbling in electrical and mechanical hobbies on Friday, March 12.
Wood, of Wharfdale, Usworth, then went for a spin as a passenger in a friend’s car – but found himself caught up in a collision.
Police attended the smash on the A1231, between Washington and Sunderland – and he was searched at the roadside.
They uncovered the blade, and he was also in possession of illegal class B drug amphetamine.
Prosecutor Clare Irving told magistrates in South Tyneside: “At 3.40pm there was a road traffic accident.
“Mr Wood is present, and police attend, and a search of the defendant is carried out.
“Located on him is white powder which was amphetamine, and a knife.
“He was arrested and cautioned and interviewed in relation to these matters. He wasn’t using the weapon in any way.”
Sandra Fife, defending Wood, who has no previous convictions, said: “He lives with his grandmother.
“There’s a shed where he potters. He was working there, he’s interested in mechanics and electricals.
“He had been rummaging
around in a tool box. It’s a lock knife, which was broken, it had a broken blade.
“It was capable of being put into place but only to half the size it should have been.
“A friend came for a drive, and he put the knife in his pocket.
“Perhaps because it’s young males, the police ask if they have anything in their pockets.
“He immediately took out the amphetamines, and took out the knife.
“He’s made a mistake, but it’s an expensive mistake in terms of worry about coming to court.
“The small amount of amphetamine was for personal use.”
Wood pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and possession of a knife in public.
Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order, with a requirement of 140 hours of unpaid work.
He must pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge, and the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife and drugs.