AN 18-year-old teenager was found carrying two samurai swords in shopping bags after being stopped and searched in Boscombe.
Alfie Leslie, of no fixed address, appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Tuesday, September 19.
He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and possessing a sharp pointed article in a public place.
Leslie was in Kings Park, Boscombe on July 29 when he spotted his girlfriend in a pub and threatened during an argument.
Police officers were called to the scene where they stopped and searched the teen.
Within two JD Sports bags, officers found the ‘ornamental swords’ wrapped within white towels.
One sword can be seen pictured at around 20cms and the second measured more than 30cms.
Prosecuting, Ms Nicola Reece, argued that Leslie's second charge should have been upgraded to an offensive weapon due to the length of the sword being more than 15 centimetres.
Defending Leslie, Mr James Moore, said the defendant suffers from PTSD due to a traumatic incident in his childhood and is suspected to be schizophrenic and bipolar.
Mr Moore added that these mental health conditions are untreated and pushed Leslie to seek medication himself.
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Alongside the two swords, officers found drugs and cash bags on the defendant at the scene.
At the time of the offence Leslie was subject to a 12-month conditional discharge following an attack on a man in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.
District Judge, Orla Austin, said due to his age and limited previous convictions she would give the teen ‘one last chance’.
“Carrying knives in public is a very serious matter and people would go straight to prison for that but because of your serious mental health needs I will be suspending the sentence,” she said.
Leslie was jailed for 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months.
He was ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
The Bournemouth Daily Echo launched a ‘No More Knives’ campaign following a series of incidents in the town.
The family of 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton, who died after an alleged knife attack, have arranged to bring a 20ft knife sculpture to Bournemouth to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives.
‘No More Knives’ aims to provoke organisations to work together against knife crime.
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