Man jailed for carrying 6in sword he claimed was toy from Nintendo's Zelda

A gaming enthusiast has been jailed for carrying a replica sword from the popular Nintendo game The Legend of Zelda - which he told police was a 'fidget toy'. Anthony Bray, 48, was seen with the miniature version of the iconic 'Master Sword' on a street in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The replica came with a six-inch blade that could be unsheathed at the push of a button. On June 8, CCTV operators alerted the authorities after they spotted him in the town's Queen Street with what appeared to be a suspicious object in his grasp.

When Bray encountered the police, he had the 'Master Sword' in his hand and was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article in a public space. He said the sword was a "fidget", an item to occupy his hands, and he had bought it online for that purpose.

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Warwickshire Police said that although Bray claimed it was for personal use, the knife could potentially be used as a weapon and cause alarm to others. Bray admitted in his police interview it might have looked menacing but said he would never have used it to harm anyone.

He pleaded guilty to carrying a bladed article in public at Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court on June 28. Bray, from Nuneaton, received a four-month jail term and was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154.

After the hearing, Sgt Spellman, Warwickshire Police's Patrol Investigations Unit, said: "We take a zero-tolerance to bladed articles in public, and Bray has fallen foul of this. It is possible to find fidget toys that aren't six-inch blades.

"It is possible not to walk down the street holding them out in front of you. With a bit more self-awareness, Bray could have avoided contact with us completely."

The Master Sword, famously wielded by Link, the hero of the Nintendo video game series, made its debut in 1991.

Known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword", the Master Sword is celebrated for its 'divine and magic' properties.