Sheffield drug-user caught with cannabis and knuckle duster

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard on August 12 how Matthew Wesley Slimm, aged 22, of Fircroft Avenue, Shiregreen, Sheffield, was found with the drugs and the weapon after he had been a passenger in a car stopped by police on Lindsay Road, Parson Cross, Sheffield.

Mark Hughes, prosecuting, said: “Police officers were on-duty in an unmarked vehicle and saw a vehicle being driven and it was stopped and Mr Slimm was a front-seat passenger and was told he would be searched.”

Slimm indicated to police he had cannabis which was recovered by the police and they also found a metal knuckle duster in the defendant’s pocket.

The defendant told police the cannabis was for personal use and he had the knuckle duster for protection because he had previously been robbed of cannabis multiple times.

Slimm, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and to possessing an offensive weapon in public after the incident on February 23.

Kathryn Lill, defending, said Slimm uses cannabis because he suffers with depression and anxiety and he had the knuckle duster for protection because people have taken things from him and his mother has also been attacked in her home.

Ms Lill added the car had been stopped under suspicion of not having insurance.

Magistrates sentenced Slimm to a 12-month community order with a 15-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a six-week curfew. Slimm was also ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge and £85 costs.