Yahoo News Armed police called to 'sleepy' snooker hall after woman reports her dad
Armed police were called to a "sleepy" snooker hall after a woman reported her father for carrying a four-inch lock knife. Kelvin Madley, 64, was relaxing at the bar of Trecenydd Snooker and Sports Club, Caerphilly, on April 9 when he was arrested in dramatic fashion, Newport Magistrates' Court heard.
Madley's solicitor Ed Mitchard said: "My client had bought the knife along with items of silver jewellery and Pink Floyd's The Wall on CD. He showed them to his daughter, saying, 'I bought these.'
"She panicked because she knew it was a lock knife, but he didn't appreciate the seriousness. She contacted police because he said he was going to the snooker club.
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"You can imagine sleepy Trecenydd Snooker Club with armed police coming in and Kelvin Madley drinking at the bar with his Pink Floyd CD, jewellery and knife in his pocket."
It is legal to carry a folding pocket knife in public if its blade is three inches in length or shorter. A lock knife, which does not fall into the category of a folding pocket knife because it is not immediately foldable at all times, is illegal to carry in public without good reason. Prosecutor Mike Williams said: "There was no lawful excuse for him having that in his possession in a public place.
"When interviewed he stated he had bought the knife from an unknown man and it was his intention to sell it on. He had had it in his possession for three days and did not realise it was an offence to carry such an item. We are not saying he brandished it or anything like that."
Madley, of Diamond Close in Energlyn, admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. His most recent previous conviction was in 2010 for shoplifting. He receives £200 a fortnight in benefits, takes nine types of tablets for a range of health issues, and was at one time dependent on alcohol but no longer drinks it because of his cirrhosis and heart problems, said Mr Mitchard.
Passing sentence, Presiding Justice Nicholas Hobbs said: "We thought about a community order but we've got to think if there's anything you need assistance with, and you have no problems with drugs and you now have no problems with drink, so there's nothing you could be assisted with.
"A gentleman of your mature age would probably have difficulty with unpaid work, so we will deal with this via a financial penalty." The magistrates imposed a £200 fine, £85 in prosecution costs and an £80 victim services surcharge.
