Man handed suspended sentence after armed police swoop uncovers knife

The flick-knife fell from Asher Robinson's trousers after officers told him to put his hands in the air.

Armed police stopped a car that he was driving in Holyhead Road, West Bromwich, on January 29, 2019, and ordered him to get out of the vehicle.

Officers also recovered a loaded revolver from a rear seat passenger in the vehicle, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Robinson, of Guthrie Close, in Newtown, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.

Prosecuting, Mr Andrew Wallace, said: "Armed officers stopped a car containing three individuals where the defendant was the driver.

"He seemed to move his left hand to his waist as he was being removed from the car.

"An officer saw something shiny on his (Robinson's) waistband which looked like the handle of a knife.

"He was made to lean down next to the driver's door and as he did so, a knife fell onto the ground.

"It looked generally like a switch knife blade. The blade measured about 6in or 16cm.

"A passenger was found to be in possession of a loaded revolver."

Robinson was of previous good character and his defence counsel said he made a "gross error of judgement".

Defending, Mr Mohammed Naser, continued: "He was working in the hospitality section of a football club. As a direct consequence of this charge he lost this employment.

"He acknowledges he is in a position where he faces losing his liberty. "

Judge Amjad Nawaz imposed on him a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. The court also ordered the switch blade to be destroyed.

Mr Nawaz told Robinson: "You were in the company of two other men [inside the vehicle] and one of them had a prohibited weapon.

"When the police stopped the vehicle and asked the occupants to get out, you were found in possession of a knife, a prohibited weapon.

"There was no purpose for you to have that weapon.

"If there was ever an incident of someone being tarnished by their company then you are it."