Youth carried blade for fear of reprisals after gunpoint robbery

Daniel Higginson, 18, of Nottingham Road, Nottingham, admitted carrying the blade when he was stopped by police on Apollo Drive at 8am on Boxing Day 2015.

Nottingham Magistrates Court heard that he carried the knife after giving evidence against a man who robbed him at gunpoint and had been moved to a new address with a panic alarm following threats and attempts to enter his old home.

Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting, said: “The police were called to the Bulwell area because it was said the defendant was looking at properties. The knife was found in his back jeans pocket.

“He told police: ‘You would if you had a gun put to your head.’ He said he carried it for his own protection and that he always carried it.”

Mitigating, Finbar Hennessy said: “Mr Higgingson was attacked in March 2015. He became very nervous about giving evidence in court. Threats were made. Attempts were made to enter his premises. At the time the robbery took place he was living in St Anne’s. For his own safety he was moved to Basford. At the address was a panic alarm. He did give evidence but the man was found not guilty.

“Since then Mr Higginson has feared repercussions and has since carried a knife. He had been to a party in Bulwell and as far as he was concerned he wasn’t acting in a disorderly manner.”

The court heard this was Higginson’s second offence of carrying a bladed article.

Mr Hennessy conceded this crossed the custody threshold but argued that the sentence should be suspended.

He told the court that Higginson and his partner and ten-week-old child were due to move to a new home in Carlton. He was currently doing a Learn Direct course in the hope of landing a job.

He was sentenced to 144 days in custody because it was a second offence and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.