Knuckle duster found in Shirebrook man's car 'was left there by a lad from work' - court is told
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Daniel Alvey had been in the vehicle with two friends, who had both been smoking cannabis, when he was pulled over as part of a police clampdown on anti-social behaviour in the area, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Monday, October 12.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, which took place on August 29 last year, Alvey, 29, was already subject to a suspended prison sentence for battery, dating back to 2018.
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Hide AdProsecuting, Robert Carr said: “The weapon was found after police stopped the vehicle at about 12.30am in the morning - it was a routine stop because there had been problems with anti-social behaviour in the area.
“He was driving the car and as officers searched the vehicle for drugs, they found the knuckle duster. He said he knew it was in the glove box and that a lad from work had left it in there when he’d given him a lift.”
Alvey, of Bank Close, Shirebrook, admitted possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared before the court.
Mitigating, John Wilford said: “He was with two friends in the car and officers could smell cannabis. His friends had been smoking cannabis but he had not because he provided a negative test. They found a small amount of cannabis and he was given a warning.
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Hide Ad“The knuckle duster was in a locked glove box and he had forgotten it was in there, and he didn’t realise the seriousness of having such an item in his possession.”
Sentencing Alvey to 120 hours of unpaid work, District Judge Andrew Davison said: “Possession of an offensive weapon is usually prison and knuckle dusters are offensive weapons and can cause serious injury. It’s very easy to put forward your version of events and I have my suspicions that you knew a lot more about it than you are admitting.”
He also fined Alvey £300 and ordered him to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £90 victim surcharge.