A CARLISLE man was the subject of a “mob-handed” police response on his birthday after being “grassed-up” for illegal possession of a Samurai sword.

Karl Williams found himself in a court dock for the first time after an incident on the day he turned 27 in early October last year.

PCs had gone to Trinity Buildings, off Wigton Road, to execute a search of Williams’ address as they suspected the implement was present.

“Mr Williams confirmed the sword was in a bedroom and confirmed its location to officers,” prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court. A knuckleduster was also located.

Williams, a man of previous good character, admitted illegal possession of an offensive weapon in private relating to the Katana sword. A second charge relating to the knuckleduster was withdrawn on the understanding that both items would ultimately be forfeited and destroyed.

Defence lawyer Ant Wilson, giving mitigation, spoke of an “unusual set of circumstances”.

Williams, he said, was a “bit of a collector”, having items which had been passed down to him previously belonging to other members of the family.

Police had been acting on information as they arrested him on his birthday. “Someone, for want of a better word, had grassed him up,” said Mr Wilson. “Police have arrived mob-handed.”

He suggested the matter could have been resolved with a caution, yet the police had instead brought charges.

Williams had previously bought the sword from a legitimate website on which there were apparently no warnings that possession was illegal. His intention was to display the sword above a fire place, and it was wrapped up and secured in a sheath as it had been since it arrived, save for him taking an initial look at it.

“He has actively assisted them in the search,” said Mr Wilson of the defendant’s response to police. “He has never had it out on the street, has never had it out in public. It was just in his bedroom. It was just an item of interest to him.

“He rightly pleads guilty,” added the lawyer. “Ignorance (of the law) of course is no defence.” Williams’ dad had described his son as a “really quiet lad” who rarely left his house.

Williams had found the knuckleduster in the street, put it into a box and then forgotten about it.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge which means that no further action will be taken unless a further offence is committed.