Teenager sentenced for possessing bladed article on Orford Lane

A Warrington teenager has been sentenced to youth custody for possession of a bladed article on Orford Lane during rumours of a planned protest.

Thomas Connelly, 18, of Regency Square, Warrington, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court today, Wednesday 14 August charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a total of 26 weeks in a young offender institution.
On Wednesday 7 August, at approximately 5.40pm, officers carrying out reassurance patrols in Warrington spotted Connelly acting suspiciously on Orford Lane, an area where there were rumours circulating about an alleged planned protest in relation to the ongoing national disorder. The rumours proved to be false.

Officers in Warrington had been given additional stop and search powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) to provide reassurance. The order means that officers can stop and search any person or vehicle they believe may be carrying weapons or causing serious violence in a particular area, whether or not they have any grounds of suspicion.
Connelly appeared to be videoing the location and when he was approached by officers to be stopped and searched, he admitted having a folding lock knife in his pocket.
Connelly was subsequently arrested for the offence and later charged.

A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: “Since the start of the recent disorder in other areas of the UK, we have been clear that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Cheshire, including those who choose to carry a weapon.
“Connelly was spotted in a location where there were rumours circulating about an alleged protest. While this did not prove to be true, Connelly had clearly made his way to Orford Lane after hearing this speculation.
“If you choose to carry a knife you are much more likely to be involved in knife crime, and I hope this serves as a reminder of how seriously we take offences of this nature.”