'10 out of 10 drunk who bartered with kids trading fags for knife' plans to make crime documentary

A career criminal who wants to give talks to disadvantaged children, about the dangers of knife crime, has been locked up after being caught with a knife.

Philip Keenan, 44, says he has changed and he now wants to campaign against knife crime. He is even planning to make a documentary about it.

But Teesside Crown Court has heard that police found a knife "tucked into Keenan's waistband" on Saturday, March 24, when they were responding to calls about a man trying house doors on Cameron Road, in Hartlepool. Officers arrested Keenan, who had left a party and was drunk, and found the knife, the Middlesbrough court heard.

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On Monday, the court heard that Keenan claims he saw a group of teenagers out on the street - one of whom he knew - and he took the knife off them. When he was arrested, he refused to give police any details about the teenagers or the party he said he had been to.

Reece Williams, prosecuting, told the court that Keenan had told the police that he was "10 out of 10" drunk. Keenan, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife in a public place.

12 days earlier, he had burgled a house, and was handed a community order. Keenan has 74 previous convictions for 152 offences, which include the possession of a weapon and four previous offences for carrying a knife.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said that Keenan presented himself to probation "as highly motivated to improve his life. He wants to teach disadvantaged youth about the impact of knife crime. He plans to make a documentary about it."

Mr Constantine said that Keenan saw kids on a street corner "and he says he bartered with them". "He exchanged cigarettes for the knife," the defence barrister said. "This was so he could dispose of the knife. He says he was trying to do good and stop knife crime."

Judge Richard Bennett replied: "In his police interview he provided no details about the teenagers, such as where they were. I don't find his account credible, I'm afraid."

The judge Jailed Keenan for eight months and told him he will serve four months on prison. Keenan, who was listening on video link from HMP Doncaster, put his hand up to speak.

"I've done years in jails," he said, "I've been to 30-odd jails. The jails are full. Four months? What's going to happen in four months?

"I know there are people sitting there thinking, shut up - now you'll get longer, but I want to change. I want to give something back.

"You get kicked out of jail. No where to go. They give you a sleeping bag. I need help."

The judge told Keenan that this was his "seventh weapon offence and he had to go to prison today". "People who carry knives must go to prison," Keenan was told.

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