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The article conveniently fails to mention whether it was sharp (extremely unlikely, the cheap steel used for these can't really hold an edge), and even more conveniently crops out the tip of the "blade" so we can't even see if it was pointed (also extremely unlikely, toys like this almost always have blunted tips).
This isn't a weapon, it's a toy. Sure, you could hurt someone with it, just like you could hurt someone with a baseball bat.
I reckon the police wanted to bust him for some other reason. The Master Sword was just their excuse.
Before he obtains the tri-force of power and becomes unstoppable.
The blade was only 6 inches that's a master dagger at best lmao
Four months in prison for getting caught on CCTV fidgeting with a sheathed letter opener
The handle is just 4cm or about 1.5 inches, so a grown man can't even hold it in his hand properly, it is clearly a kids toy. He may have used for role playing, although he called it a fidget toy?
victim surcharge of £154.
WHAT VICTIM??? The article says nothing of him doing anything to others. To my knowledge he didn't attack anyone. There's no victim!
He is the victim. It's a charge on him.
Soooooo, either he should get the money, as the victim, or the charge is basically police charging victims money for being victims.
.....I feel like I'm missing something here.
This "victim surcharge" would be termed court cost or court fee in the US.
Four months of prison? It sounds like the man is disconnected from reality but hardly a real threat to society.
Seriously. I've seen letter openers more threatening than that "sword". Was it dumb? Sure. Does he deserve a slap the wrist, absolutely. But prison?? No way. What the actual fuck?
The stupid thing is that the UK is literally running out of prison spaces currently so that we are considering letting long term prisioners out on licence early to free up room.
Yet apparently this man needs to have his life turned upsidedown in order to occupy one of those spaces for four months.
The cells are probably crammed full of cosplayers, student protestors and journalists. Remember that massive ruckus and manhunt for thee guy who was wandering around in a gimp suit making people feel uncomfortable?
"Our prisons have never been safer!"
It's OK though because as soon as the prison guards turn their backs on him he will immediately escape on an eight inch paraglider.
gotta throw the book at him to get the numbers up so they look better when it comes to ignoring serious crime.
With a bit more self-awareness, Bray could have avoided contact with us completely.”
With a shred of brain matter, Sgt Spellman and the bastards he works with, could have not pursued such a ridiculous “crime”.
In addition to the four months in prison, he was required to pay a victim surcharge of £154.
So not only was there no victim here but himself he is also now out of work for a minimum of 4 months he's now out 154 bucks. Fuck this world. Like ya, I get that there is that law for a reason, so sure, maybe give him a fine or better yet community service and then let him be on his way. What they have done benefits no one at all and wastes local resources.
I know people are reacting strongly, prob a large US contingent here and that’s understandable. It is a completely different world in the UK. The police don’t carry firearms (specialist response teams do) as they are just not as available to the general public. Knives or clubs/bats are the most common weapon encountered. Even in that context I too find the sentence pretty heavy on the face of it. The article was rubbish at giving anything other than rage-bait. It didn’t explain if there were circumstances of aggravation, does he have form (ie prior same or related offences), were there vulnerable people in the vicinity, which specific charge was he accused with (possessing or threatening with) did he plead guilty, were there mitigating factors that actually reduced his sentence as the mandatory minimum sentence for “threatening with a weapon” is six months, eg did he cooperate, is he a sole caregiver for someone at home etc.
Only thing I’ve walked away knowing is the author of the article seemed more interested in provoking outrage and upping their hit count than demonstrating any investigative nous or journalistic integrity.
Even though we have the gun nuts all over this fucked up country, we do manage to far outscore the UK on per capita knife crime as well. Yay us. I agree with your take on the motivation for the article.
Bit draconian hey. I admit the whole thing was stupid but considering he didn't hurt anyone with this toy or show intention to do so a fine alone would have been more than enough. 4 months prison? Wtf
Have police there never heard of a "letter opener"? 🤔
There's a reason "zero tolerance" is also called "zero intelligence".
Have police there never heard of a “letter opener”? 🤔
At this point, a significant number of them are young enough to have never opened a letter in their lives, so possibly. But this is still extremely stupid.
it was only 15cm long. that's at best a Master Dagger, not a master sword! still too long to be legal to carry out in public though.
It may be only a few centimeters, but you know what it could do if fully charged*.
(*I know, that's what he said or something)
That old man lying motherfucker...
Ah yes, another victory for zero tolerance policies.
Everything about this is asinine.
Just to be clear this was not in the US. Their weapons laws are way more restrictive then ours. Apparently he was brandishing it and approached police with it. Sounds like he is a moron.
That would be relevant if it was a weapon.
It was 20 cm long. Or about the length of 2 toothpicks. 'Brandishing'?
MASTER SWORD = 22 cm or 8.6 inches including handle and holster.
We also have very strict knife regulation here (Denmark), but I think if it is a first time offense, he would have gotten off with a fine, since it's obviously a toy.
Seems like a perfect place for role playing games!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwickshire#/media/File:Kenilworth_Castle_(cropped).jpg
Wiki page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwickshire
Some NotTheOnion type shit.
At least it didn’t break in the middle of fighting a Lynel.
I feel like he could have been let off with a fine and confiscation where if he would do it again or act provocatively the prison sentence would apply. 4 months in prison is a lot
The image in the article shows the entire thing being 20cm and the actual 'blade' portion of the toy being around 13cm long. a little longer than the blade on a pretty standard multi tool like a Leatherman.
Is this seriously what the police were actually concerned about, I understand that it's different in the UK vs the US, but this is definitely overkill. This thing would need to be pinched between your thumb and index finger like a cigarette to be wielded and is arguably less dangerous than a fork.
Leave this old nerd alone
They jailed my man Link smh
Prison? For this?
Just take it away and warn him. How did no one along the way protest the heavy handedness of this?
America is stupid for excessive guns. But this is stupid in the other direction. Talk about over policing. Fuck me this is stupid
I'm surprised Nintendo's lawyers didn't get to him before the police.
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