UK: Man fined for carrying candy for self-defense

[MicroBalrog]

 Man fined for carrying gobstopper

A man caught carrying a large gobstopper in a sock has been fined £400 after it was found to be an offensive weapon.

Jamie Harvey, 20, said he needed it for protection after he was attacked.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court he admitted carrying the snooker ball-sized gobstopper and sock at a city leisure centre on 19 December last year.

Defence agent Matthew Nicholson said the sweet was "a substantial piece of confectionary" which could be eaten.

The court heard how unemployed Harvey, from the Maybury area of Edinburgh, kept the gobstopper under his car seat.

He was caught at Drumbrae Leisure Centre by police who were searching for cannabis.

Sheriff Kenneth McIver told him that, even though it was not in the same category as a knife or axe, it was capable of inflicting a nasty injury.

"You will be aware of the ongoing national debate on offensive weapons including knives," he told Harvey.

"But all too often this court has to consider other improvised weapons like this."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7554912.stm

This, btw, is a gobstopper.

[Nick1911]

Wow.  Wonder if tire-irons are outlawed over there?

[cosine]

A snooker ball sized gobstopper? Where the heck does one get those, and how do you eat it?

[ilbob]

believe it or not this would also be illegal in much of the US.

they would call it a blackjack,or sandclub.

[Mabs2]

Apparently, a snooker is a pool ball?
At first I thought this was ridiculous, but if it has the weight, I can understand this.

[Tallpine]

Pathetic ... 

[Dntsycnt]

From the title, I was picturing a sharpened candy cane.

[xavier fremboe]

I'd like to take this moment to thank all who fought and died in the Revolutionary War, ensuring our rights to transport candy in any manner we see fit.

[Rovi]

Apparently, a snooker is a pool ball?
At first I thought this was ridiculous, but if it has the weight, I can understand this.

English Snooker balls are slightly smaller than American Pool balls (2 1/8" vs. 2 1/4") and have no specified weight, but they are made of the same materials and as the Pool ball weighs 5.5-6 oz, the Snooker ball would be of similar weight too.
I wouldn't fancy getting hit by one by any means, let along swung in the end of a sock.

[xavier fremboe]

Nor would I like to be struck with $2.50 worth of pennies contained in a pair of stockings.  Still, aren't we approaching the limits of credulity in defining 'weapon'?  Reducing it immediately to absurdity, must we keep the ground free of rocks and sticks?

[Desertdog]

Just carry a ball, bat, baseball glove, and a baseball uniiform in your car within sight and easy reach.  You might get away with it, but probably not.

[Boomhauer]

Just carry a ball, bat, baseball glove, and a baseball uniiform in your car within sight and easy reach.  You might get away with it, but probably not.

Certainly not in the UK.

[Antibubba]

A cricket bat, then.

But it isn't the form that makes it illegal, it's the intent, or the using of it.  If a gimpy old gent were to defend himself with his cane, he'd probably be charged.

[tokugawa]

Don't worry, soon we will be air-dropping thousands of Liberator pistols.....

[Nick1911]

Don't worry, soon we will be air-dropping thousands of Liberator pistols.....

I think we should drop into California before the UK!

[HankB]

. . . Jamie Harvey, 20, said he needed it for protection after he was attacked.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court he admitted carrying the snooker ball-sized gobstopper and sock at a city leisure centre on 19 December last year.

Sounds like the idiot admitted to carrying it as a weapon, thus establishing intent. If he'd denied any intent of using it as a weapon - it WAS candy after all - he'd just be another eccentric for carrying a snack in a sock.

[AZRedhawk44]

In "certain places" where I am not allowed to carry weapons, I will often take a roll of quarters with me.

Why?

"So I can make a phone call if I need to." 

It also, coincidentally, makes my fist weigh a LOT more and hurt more if I need to punch something.

And... it's really hard to ban money for a pay phone from places like airports.

This gobstopper might have been easier to "conceal" if it were in a plastic sack (walmart or target-style sack) and still in its retail wrapper.

"No sir, I just bought this down the block, and I fancy I'll enjoy it on the couch back at home while I watch Gordon Ramsey tell us all to sod off."

[agricola]

. . . Jamie Harvey, 20, said he needed it for protection after he was attacked.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court he admitted carrying the snooker ball-sized gobstopper and sock at a city leisure centre on 19 December last year.

Sounds like the idiot admitted to carrying it as a weapon, thus establishing intent. If he'd denied any intent of using it as a weapon - it WAS candy after all - he'd just be another eccentric for carrying a snack in a sock.

Indeed.

[MicroBalrog]

America still has coin-using pay phones?

Haven't they died out in the late 90's with the advent of the pre-paid calling card and the cellphone?

[Regolith]

Haven't they died out in the late 90's with the advent of the pre-paid calling card and the cellphone?

Nope.

I still use one every once in a while, when I'm traveling and out of cellphone range. And coins are much more convenient than pre-paid calling card, unless you use the pay phone often.

[Manedwolf]

There aren't any here. All gone.

[Dntsycnt]

I've noticed a couple at Walmart, but they hide them well, as if in disgrace. 

[Antibubba]

I think we should drop into California before the UK!

I don't think that's what the "drop test" is about.   

Many of us here are quite well armed, despite everything. 

Can someone add some cold water to the bath?  My green skin can't take much more of this...