Swansea man jailed for knife possession and theft

A Swansea man has been jailed for 21 weeks after he was found in possession of a knife when stop-searched by police.

Andrew Coleman, 48, from Ravenhill, was stopped on Tuesday, November 18, as officers conducted foot patrols on Bryn Road. He was in possession of two baskets of items stolen from a nearby supermarket, as well as a blue Stanley knife.

Coleman told officers that he was carrying the knife “for his own protection.”

On Wednesday, Coleman pleaded guilty to theft and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place. He has been sentenced to 21 weeks in prison.

The arrest came as officers work to highlight the dangers of knife crime during Op Sceptre Intensification Week.

PC Scott Morris said: “As officers work to highlight the dangers of knife crime during Op Sceptre Intensification Week, cases such as this only serve to highlight the problem of people still carrying knives as they are out on the streets. Carrying a knife ‘for your own protection’, as Andrew Coleman said, is not an excuse. Incidents involving knives can have tragic consequences. We work alongside partner organisations to support our aims of keeping South Wales safe from knife crime.”