A homeless South Tyneside man has been jailed after being found in possession of a kitchen knife as he slept rough.
Lee Colman, 47, of no fixed abode, admitted an offence of possession of a bladed article and two offences of possession of a controlled drug when he appeared in custody at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Monday, 8th July 2024.
Possession of a bladed article is an offence under section 139(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The offence, which is triable either way, has a maximum penalty of 6 months' custody on summary conviction; 4 years' custody on conviction on indictment.
Magistrates heard that police were called to the Downhill Lane Interchange, Sunderland, on Saturday, 6th July 2024.
On arrival officers found Colman and friend asleep in the verge.
Gurjot Kaur, prosecuting, said: "The police got a call to say there were two bodies lying at the side of the road. They found the defendant and another male.
"They asked the defendant if he wanted a lift but first searched him. They found him with a large kitchen knife, cannabis and pregabalin."
Magistrates heard that Colman had 52 previous convictions arising from 109 offences. He had three previous convictions for possession of a bladed article, the most recent being in January 2023 when he was sentenced to 876 days' custody.
He was still on licence at the time of these latest offences.
Paul Hanratty, mitigating, described his client as being in a "pretty hopeless situation".
"He can't get anywhere to live and is of no fixed abode. He sleeps with friends or sleeps rough", Mr Hanratty said.
"He says that people pay lip-service to him and then he is pushed aside. The upshot is that he's better off in prison.
"He says he found the knife. There is no suggestion anybody was threatened. He accepts perhaps what his fate is."
Colman was sentenced to 26 weeks' custody.
He was also ordered to pay £154 surcharge.
Magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the seized knife and drugs.
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