A Pembroke man who has expertise in ‘foraging’ has been fined in court after admitting possessing a bladed knife in public.
Forty-two-year-old Nicholas Andrews, of Main Street, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, charged with possessing a lock knife in public in Commons Road, Pembroke, on November 26, of last year.
Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that Mr. Andrews had been arrested for a separate matter and when he was searched by police officers, they found the knife on him.
Mr. Andrews’s defence solicitor Steve Lloyd explained to the court that during the day of his arrest, his client had been out ‘foraging’ and had forgotten to remove the knife from his possession.
“He forages where he collects things from the wild and use them for cooking purposes. Mr. Andrews is somewhat an expert in the matter,” he said.
“He did not realise that he was carrying an offensive weapon and that he was committing an offence, although ignorance of that does not amount to a defence.
“Mr. Andrews co-operated fully with the police at the scene and when interviewed. He knows he made a mistake and is mortified that he will now have a conviction like this to his name,” added Mr. Lloyd.
Magistrates gave the defendant a six month conditional discharge and ordered for the forfeiture and destruction of the lock knife.
Mr. Andrews was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.