South Shields plasterer caught with Stanley knife in public escapes six-month prison sentence
Plasterer from South Shields caught with knife in public for the second time in six years avoids jail.
A South Tyneside plasterer caught with a Stanley knife in his pocket after exiting his works van with job colleagues has been spared jail.
Robert Hansen, 40, faced a minimum six months behind bars after being convicted of possession of a bladed article but magistrates allowed him to walk free from court.
They heard police spotted Hansen, of Honeysuckle Avenue, South Shields, in a Ford Transit van and followed due to his previous offending.
It drove along Sunderland Road in South Shields, and they approached after it stopped in Mortimer Road on Monday, December 30, 2024.
A search revealed the knife, making it the second time in six years he had committed the offence of having a blade in public.
The dad-of-three denied the crime but was found guilty after a trial in March this year, a ruling which made him subject to a minimum six-month jail term.
Magistrates imposed that but suspended the sentence for 12 months, meaning he kept his liberty, but warned him to take more care with the placement of his work tools.
Prosecutor John Garside told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “Police recognised the defendant as he had been arrested for other offences.
“In his trouser pocket was the knife. He stated that it was for work purposes.
“He does come before the court with a relevant conviction in 2018 for the same offence of possession of a bladed article.
“That means the court must impose a minimum of six months custody, unless there are exceptional circumstances not to do so.”
Nick Kell, defending, said Hansen maintained his version of events – that he had the knife purely as a work implement.
He also said jailing Hansen would be unfair, due to one of his children being unwell and him having caring responsibilities for two others.
Mr Kell added: “His defence at trial was that the item was used as part of his work, that was the first thing he said to the police.
“He said he was in his work clothes and with his work colleagues. He is a plasterer, and he also does labouring jobs. Unfortunately, he was convicted.”
Hansen must also pay £620 court costs and a £154 victim surcharge.