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Jail term for school machete man
A FATHER has been given a four-month jail term after being seen with a machete outside a school.
David Johnson, of Ford Mill Road, Catford, was reported to police by pupils who spotted the weapon in the boot of his car on March 3, 2006.
The 39-year-old maintenance worker claimed he bought the 2ft-long blade for work and had forgotten about it when he drove to Tom Hood School in Leytonstone, east London.
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard today (August 28) how Johnson, who pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article, told police he was just waiting in the car for his partner.
Prosecutor Caroline Moonan said: "He claimed his daughter was being bullied and his partner had gone in to deal with the matter.
"He was asked if he knew any reason why the police would be called."
At this point, Johnson had said: "It was a young lad. I had my boot open and he and some others made a fuss about something I've got in my boot I use for cutting trees."
Judge Wendy Joseph accepted Johnson did not intend to use the blade and gave him a four-month jail term - equal to the time he had already served on remand.
The judge said: "This is a nasty weapon but it wasn't in his mind it was there and he wasn't intending to use it in any way."
1:17pm Thursday 28th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jodi, Orpington on 3:53pm Thu 28 Aug 08
I find it funny that you can stab someone and get away with it, but unintentionally carry a "weapon" and you get a jail term!!! What is happening to this world!!
I find it funny that you can stab someone and get away with it, but unintentionally carry a "weapon" and you get a jail term!!! What is happening to this world!!
Posted by: Sisyphus, Bromley on 8:01pm Thu 28 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Jodi[/bold] wrote:
I find it funny that you can stab someone and get away with it, but unintentionally carry a "weapon" and you get a jail term!!! What is happening to this world!![/quote] I didn't realise you could stab people and get away with it. What change in the law are you referring to?
Jodi wrote:
I find it funny that you can stab someone and get away with it, but unintentionally carry a "weapon" and you get a jail term!!! What is happening to this world!!
I didn't realise you could stab people and get away with it. What change in the law are you referring to?
Posted by: Jim, Woolwich on 11:44pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Sisyphus you are a sad person.
Sisyphus you are a sad person.
Posted by: G on 2:49pm Fri 29 Aug 08
How ridiculous! If this man was standing outside the school or any public place for that matter brandishing a machete without using it for its proper purpose then I can fully understand why the long arm of the law would inflict such a penalty. But for goodness sake next we will be in trouble for carrying a large spanner in the boot of our cars. How many of us have carried home items from the local garden centre and stopped off to pick up our children from school. Having said all that if the man was threatening in any way my making known that he had such a lethal tool in his boot then Yes I agree, throw the book at him.
How ridiculous! If this man was standing outside the school or any public place for that matter brandishing a machete without using it for its proper purpose then I can fully understand why the long arm of the law would inflict such a penalty. But for goodness sake next we will be in trouble for carrying a large spanner in the boot of our cars. How many of us have carried home items from the local garden centre and stopped off to pick up our children from school. Having said all that if the man was threatening in any way my making known that he had such a lethal tool in his boot then Yes I agree, throw the book at him.
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