Man locked up after being caught wielding knife in town centre

A man was caught with a ‘fearsome’ knife in a town centre after members of the public alerted police.

Police swiftly arrested Julian Gray after he was spotted wielding the sharply pointed kitchen knife at Bridge Place in Worksop.

The 44-year-old, who was caught on CCTV cameras, was found to have the weapon, which had a nine-centimetre blade, in his jacket pocket when he was searched by police.

He told officers he was carrying the weapon for his own protection following the incident which happened on the afternoon of 17 April 2023.

Gray, of Ollerton, was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (16 August 2023), he also pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman inside a flat in Ollerton on 12 July 2023.

Prosecutor Samuel Lowne said Gray had been drinking before he started arguing with the victim. After he followed her into a bedroom, he punched her in the face while she was on the bed and grabbed a pillow and pushed it down on her face.

Mr Lowne said while the incident was ‘very brief In nature’ and Gray had ‘removed the pillow shortly afterwards’, the victim thought he was trying to suffocate her.

The woman, who suffered bruising during the incident, went to her neighbours and called the police. Gray was arrested later that day.

Matthew Hayes, defending Gray, said his ‘poor decision’ to carry the knife on 17 April 2023 ‘was influenced by the misuse of alcohol’ and added he had also struggled with drug addiction.

Recorder Michael Stephens described it as a ‘pretty fearsome-looking knife’ but recognised that Gray had taken steps to address his issues.

Gray was jailed for a total of 12 months and made subject of a five-year restraining order.

Inspector Hayley Crawford, District Commander for Bassetlaw, said: “We take all reports involving knives and violence extremely seriously and work really hard day-in and day-out to take as many weapons as possible of our streets and to educate people on the dangers of carrying a knife.

"We will not tolerate people carrying weapons on any sort. There is simply no excuse and we will always look to take action against those who are found to commit such offences.”