Man, 19, sentenced for knife crime offence

A 19-year-old man who was charged with a knife crime offence after a stop search in Finedon has been handed an 18-month community order.

On May 18, 2022, at 8.15pm, Wellingborough Neighbourhood Policing Officers conducted a stop search on 19-year-old Olatide Nathan, of Heath Green Grove, Birmingham, in Poplar Road, and he was found to have a knife in his possession.

He appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court this week (June 13) where he pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place and was handed an 18-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work and costs totalling £180.

PC Joe Duncombe, said: “Tackling knife crime is a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police so I am pleased to see this guilty plea.

“Being in possession of a knife doesn’t make you safer or look stronger. If anything, it magnifies your weakness and makes you a target.

“Knives are so dangerous and young people who carry them often don’t realise the fatal consequences they can so easily have.

“As a Force, we will continue doing all we can to take as many knives off our streets as possible and to put the offenders before the courts.”