Lock knife confiscated from man police found lying intoxicated in middle of Hartlepool road

A man landed himself in court for carrying a lock knife after being found lying intoxicated in the middle of a road.
The case was dealt with at Teesside Magistrates Court.The case was dealt with at Teesside Magistrates Court.
The case was dealt with at Teesside Magistrates Court.

Police came across Raymond Rowbotham apparently unconscious in Chester Road, Hartlepool, at about 12.15am on September 1 last year.

Alan Davison, prosecuting at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, said: “Upon being searched by the officers they found a lock knife and some tablets.”

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Rowbotham, 32, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in public and possession of class C drugs for the tablets.

He was on a suspended prison sentence at the time for previously assaulting two emergency workers.

He also had a previous conviction for possessing a bladed article meaning he was at risk of being jailed for six months.

But District Judge Timothy Capstick said it would be unjust to do that in all the circumstances including the fact Rowbotham is waiting for an operation.

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Neil Taylor, defending, said his client had been seriously ill last month and has been diagnosed with a thyroid illness.

He said the knife had been given to Rowbotham by his grandfather and was sentimental adding: “It wasn’t being brandished or out in the open for anyone to see.

"There’s no suggestion of there being any violence used by him.”

Mr Taylor added: “Quite frankly he was vulnerable himself at the time.”

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District Judge Capstick ordered the knife to be confiscated and sentenced Rowbotham, of Osborne Road, Hartlepool, to 16 weeks prison suspended for 12 months.

He was also given a tagged eight-week curfew between 9pm and 7am and ordered to do 15 probation activity days.

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