Swansea,South Wales - Student admits taking imitation handgun into Swansea university library

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Edward Thomas took an imitation Glock gun into Swansea Business School's library

A STUDENT has pleaded guilty to taking a imitation Glock pistol into the University of Wales Trinity St David's Swansea Business School.

Armed police officers swooped on the High Street building in November last year after a call from a lecturer.

Edward Thomas was found sitting at a computer in the school's library with the weapon and a magazine in his bag.

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Lisa Jones, for the prosecution, told Swansea Magistrates Court that the weapon was indistinguishable from a real gun, but was only capable of firing blanks.

She said: "At around 4pm on November 26 police received a call from a lecturer at the business campus on High Street following reports that a student was in the library with a gun in his bag. The defendant had been talking about having a gun.

"Officers approached the defendant, who was located at a computer terminal, and asked if he had anything he shouldn't have - he said 'yes'."

In his bag officers found the weapon and a magazine.

Twenty-year-old Thomas was arrested, and in a subsequent prepared statement to police said he had been "practising Muslim for three week in June" but was not now religious.

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Thomas, of St Andrew's Avenue in Crewe, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm in a public place when he appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court today.

The court heard the defendant is currently suspended from the University of Wales Trinity St David pending the criminal proceedings, and the university will take its own disciplinary action following the completion of the court case.

Matt Henson, for Thomas, said his client did not wish to return to Swansea, and was hoping to start at a different university in September, pending the outcome of the case.

Magistrates adjourned matters for three weeks to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, and Thomas was bailed to his address in Crewe.

Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Student-admits-taking-imitation-handgun-Swansea/story-28708438-detail/story.html#ixzz3zwUJEXgB 
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