WISBECH: Demolition worker's remorse over carrying a knife in public, court told

DEMOLITION worker William Gilbert went out for a night in Wisbech wearing his work clothes – and still had a lock knife in his pocket when searched by police who were called out to a disturbance. Gilbert normally uses the knife to remove plastic wrapping

DEMOLITION worker William Gilbert went out for a night in Wisbech wearing his work clothes - and still had a lock knife in his pocket when searched by police who were called out to a disturbance.

Gilbert normally uses the knife to remove plastic wrapping from pallets of reclaimed bricks, Fenland magistrates were told this week.

But they warned the teenager that he could still be jailed for taking the knife with a three-inch serrated blade into a public place.

When police arrived to deal with a group causing a disturbance outside the S R Taste Place in Falcon Road, Wisbech, someone told them that Gilbert had a knife. Gilbert told police that he had forgotten he had the knife, and showed remorse.

"He thinks someone bore him a grudge and pointed him out to police," said solicitor John Clarke.

"He did not have the knife for any unlawful purpose, but knife offences are always very serious." Gilbert was sacked after the incident, he added.

Speaking to the magistrates, Gilbert, of Lynn Road, Wisbech, said he had gone out on July 12 wearing sports trousers, steel toe capped boots, and an old tee-shirt. He had met his girlfriend, and visited the Case pub, The Wheatsheaf pub and Mendis restaurant before the incident.