Boston man found in possession of CS gas spray and Stanley knife blades appears in court

A COURT has heard that a 20 year old Polish man, found in possession of a CS gas spray cannister, who only moved to the UK five months ago, was not aware that it was illegal in this country as they were freely available and legal to buy in his native country.

Michal Marek Ferenc of Tooley Street admitted possessing the canister as well as a number of Stanley Knife blades in public, as well as possessing amphetamines and Ecstasy, assaulting a police officer and damaging a garden fence, when he appeared at Boston Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Jim Clare said that in the early hours of September 3, police saw two males on bicycles in Broadfield Lane and thought Ferenc, who was one of them, appeared to be under the influence of something.

He said that when they noticed a small foil wrapped package in his bag, they searched Ferenc's bag and found 1.21 grammes of amphetamines and a CS gas 'Pepper' spray canister.

Mr Clare said that as he was arrested Ferenc 'panicked', saying “no, no please no” before pulling away as the officers tried to handcuff him.

He said Ferenc pulled himself away by raising his hands and pushing back at the officer into the doors of the van and then throwing down his bicycle and running away.

Mr Clare said the officers followed him and saw him climb over a fence in Blue Street, damaging it, before he was arrested in the courtyard of a nearby property, where a search revealed he also had Stanley Knife blades in a plastic box.

He said a search of his home revealed 1.6 grammes of white powder, later identified as MDMA (Ecstasy).

Mr Clare said Ferenc stold police he had the pepper spray for self defence and that the Stanley Knife blades were used for cutting wallpaper as he was a decorator.

Mitigating, Andrea Wilkes said Ferenc had only been in the country for five months and had bought the pepper spray, which can be legally bought in Poland, for self defence after being the victim of an attack in the street.

She said he had no intention of using it and he had never used it or the blades to threaten anyone.

She said he had come to the UK to find his mother, who had abandoned him when he was 10, and to find work and was now living with her and his stepfather and had just started work on the land.

Ms Wilkes said he had panicked when he was being arrested but had not deliberately pushed the officer nor thrown the bicycle at him, but it had fallen over as he ran away.

The magistrates ordered Ferenc to pay compensation of £5 for the damage to the fence and £50 to the police officer.

For the drugs and weapon offences, he was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for a year, and he was also ordered to pay £207 in court costs and charges.