Man jailed after being caught carrying knife in Newtown

Christopher Parrack was found with a plastic and metal credit card knife with a five-centimetre blade when his belongings were searched by police.

The 43-year-old had been stopped and arrested for a separate matter by officers in Llanidloes Road on April 18 before being taken away to a custody suite in Aberystwyth. Welshpool Magistrates Court was told a 8.5 centimetre folding credit card knife was found.

Parrack was given an immediate 21-week prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to possessing a knife blade in a public place when he appeared in court on Tuesday, October 26.

Indunee Senevirate, who was prosecuting Parrack, said: "The defendant stated that he used the knife for building work and he did not realise that it was illegal to have the blade on his person."

Parrack had a previous conviction from 2002 for carrying an offensive weapon.

Simon Bailey, defending, said the April 18 offence was a "serious matter" however "no harm occurred here". He added that it was "unjust" and "inappropriate" to give a custodial sentence when the last offence for carrying an offensive weapon was more than 20 years ago.

"He has had quite an involvement with drug and alcohol services since March 2015. His progress has been good, and the services are keen to work with him further,” Mr Bailey said.

"In time, hopefully we will not see Christopher Parrack in court for other matters."

After considering the seriousness of the offence, the magistrates agreed that the credit card knife was “clearly not a nice item” and that it passed the custodial threshold.

Parrack, of Wellesley Gardens, Birmingham, was given a 21-week custodial sentence which was reduced by five weeks after pleading guilty before appearing in court. He was ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge. An order was also made to forfeit and destroy the credit card knife.

The 43-year-old spoke to say that he understood the sentence before being led away from the dock by custody staff.