Man stopped by police had drugs and two flick knives

A barrister for Robert Shanks insisted he never intended to use the items discovered by police in the city centre.

The 25-year-old, of Thornberry Avenue, was given a two-month suspended jail sentence.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard police stopped a vehicle he was driving in the Gresham Street area on September 19, 2018.

A small bag of suspected cocaine and cannabis was discovered concealed in his waistband.

Two spring-loaded flick knives were located in the boot, according to the prosecution.

A Crown lawyer added: “He said the knives were in a bag and he had no intention of using them.”

Shanks was convicted of possessing Class A and B drugs, and two counts of possessing a bladed article - namely a lock knife - in a public place.

Defence counsel Luke Curran told the court his client has sought rehabilitation.

The lawyer also said that his client had since enrolled for a college course in mechanics.

The barrister described the blades found in the car as antiques.

“He had worked in a salvage yard and took (them) as a souvenir.

“But (he) accepts he shouldn’t have had them,” Mr Curran added.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall suspended the jail term for a year.

She said: “He seems to have taken the opportunity to get back on a much more stable track.”