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A 64-year-old Moreton man has been fined nearly £900 after importing an illegal extendable baton from China which he claimed was to be used as a walking stick.
As reported by the Wirral Globe, Ian Clarke, of Anstey Close, was arrested after Royal Mail staff at a Berkshire branch stopped a parcel addressed to him on 8 April. They discovered an unpermitted weapon inside.
He was arrested by officers on April 13.
When questioned, he first told police the baton was for protection, but later told Wirral Magistrates Court it was to use as a walking stick. He claimed he didn't know the weapon was not allowed.
In court, Mr Clark said: "I really didn’t know it was prohibited to bring into this country, to be honest. It is classed as a walking stick and hiking stick. I had no other purpose or any other reason."
Extendable batons are banned under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. Importing similar items to get around the ban is also illegal under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
Prosecutor Veselina Taneva told the court that while importing prohibited weapons for resale carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, but the Crown accepted this was not Clarke's goal.
Bench chair Sean McGuinness described the case as "really bizarre" during sentencing on October 15.
He told Clarke: "You stand before us today, a man of 64 years of age with absolutely no convictions before and a clean record. You've purchased an extendable baton. You say it can be used as a walking stick, but you can easily walk into any GoOutdoors or Trespass stores and get a walking stick."
Clarke was warned in court that using the weapon for protection could have landed him in a "world of hurt", even if he was not the aggressor in a confrontation.
Mr McGuiness added: "Having these items is absolutely not worth it. Having said that, you are a man of good character with no previous convictions. We don't see that probation has anything to offer you. We're going to deal with this by way of financial penalty."
Clarke was fined £576, plus a victim surcharge of £230 and £85 in prosecution costs, totalling £891.
