Homeless man caught with knife in Parkway was making sandwiches

Simon Cowper was spotted with the wooden handled knife – which had a four inch blade - by the centre’s CCTV operators on September 7 this year.
Prosecuting, Clare Barclay said that when Mr Cowper was approached by officers when sat on a bench outside the Barclays Bank, he admitted having the knife in his bag, but said that he only carried it in order to make himself something to eat.
The court heard that Mr Cowper was homeless, but sometimes stayed at his sister’s house in Hamstead Marshall - and that he got by on inheritance money left to him by his late father.
Mike Davis, defending, said: “He has gastrointestinal problems and has to cut what he eats into small chunks.
“He accepts he had a knife in his bag but was only using it as a utensil.
“Yes, it was in Parkway, but it was at 8pm on a Sunday evening, when I would imagine none of the banks or shops are open and it is unlikely that many people would be walking past.”
He continued: “He has learned something of a lesson to eat his food in a private area from now on.”
Mr Cowper admitted possessing a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place.
Magistrates placed a forfeit and destruction order on the knife and made him subject to a six month conditional discharge.
He was also ordered to pay a statutory £15 surcharge.