Young man caught with a nail-filled baseball bat at Hull train station. Faces jail due to past offenses and probation violation.
Brandon had a prior history of legal transgressions. On a previous occasion, he was observed acting erratically at a train station while carrying the bat. He explained that he had not turned it in, fearing its potential misuse by others.
The court learned that Brandon, 20, confessed to possessing the weapon on September 12th. He initially placed the nail-filled bat in an alley before retrieving it and concealing it in his pants near the train station. Police, observing Brandon’s rapid pace within the station, intercepted him near the exit. He admitted to having the bat, adorned with nails, concealed inside his jacket.
Brandon claimed he discovered the bat in the alley and, concerned about its potential for misuse, decided to keep it. He had accumulated 19 past offenses since 2018, including an eight-month jail sentence for violating an order in November. His possession of the bat constituted a violation of his ongoing probation. A prior weapon charge from 2018 further complicated his situation.
His lawyer emphasized that Brandon had recently been in custody but now had stable housing at a hostel. The probation service expressed a willingness to assist him. Brandon harbored aspirations to work in catering and eventually start his own business. The case originated in January, with the court expressing reservations about his engagement with the probation service.
His lawyer acknowledged that imprisonment remained a distinct possibility, urging Brandon to make a genuine effort. He highlighted Brandon’s prospective move to his own apartment. The court mandated 40 hours of community service and 20 days of rehabilitation support. He was explicitly warned that further transgressions would result in a jail sentence.