A man who was caught carrying a bladed article at the Spalding Flower Parade was jailed on Tuesday for 12 months.
Jake Glenn (26) came to the attention of police officers after they heard someone shouting and became aware of a strong smell of cannabis.
Lincoln Crown Court heard in response Glenn gave the officers a “sheepish look” and pulled his hood across his face.
Phil Howes, prosecuting, told the court Glenn was apologetic as the officers approached him and carried out a search.
Mr Howes said police found a metallic paint style scraper in Glenn’s ‘man bag’ which qualified as a bladed or pointed article.
During police interview Glenn said he forgot he was carrying the scraper and claimed he normally used it to either clean his cannabis grinder or remove his bike tyres.
The court heard Glenn had served a nine month prison sentence in 2022 for possessing a knife and also had a previous conviction for possessing a knuckle duster.
His convictions meant Glenn qualified for a mandatory jail sentence unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Glenn, formerly of Alexandra Road, Spalding, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article on May 11.
Neil Sands, mitigating, said Glenn had made good progress since his last arrest and had been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.
“To cut to the chase it is whether it is custody or something else can be done to help this young man,” Mr Sands added.
But passing sentence Recorder Graham Huston told Glenn he could not find any exceptional circumstances to avoid an immediate jail sentence.
Recorder Huston said he completely rejected the explanations given by Glenn for having the weapon and said it was the experience of the court that such “carpet cutters” were carried in the drugs world.
“The difficulty is you persist in carrying dangerous weapons and are susceptible to drugs which makes you unpredictable.
“You have not learnt you lesson,” Recorder Huston added.
“This is a particularly nasty weapon capable of causing nasty injuries.”
