Pearl House on Princess Way, Swansea - where Charles Andrew Stephens was discovered sleeping
A MAN who slept in the stairwell of a residential block of flats in Swansea city centre had a knife in his bag, a court heard.
Residents at Pearl House on Princess Way called police on the morning of September 8, after finding a sleeping Charles Andrew Stephens in the building.
Officers arrived and woke the 42-year-old, who told them he had lost his medication — police then offered to help him look for it, and as they were going though his bag, they found a pink-handled craft knife with an exposed six-inch blade.
Stephens — formerly of Gomer Road in Townhill but now of High Street in Abertillery — pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared in the dock at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, December 2.
Ieuan Rees, prosecuting, said Stephens had 50 previous convictions for 194 offences, including one for possessing a bladed article which involved the defendant threatening to stab staff in M&S with a needle after being caught shoplifting meat.
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Lee Davies, for Stephens, accepted his client had an "appalling record" of offending, and said drink and drugs had played a major part in his life. But the advocate said Stephens was now being helped to address his problems by the charity Victory Outreach in Abertillery.
Recorder Timonthy Petts said the carrying of knives was regarded as a serious matter because they could lead to situations escalating, and to serious injuries being inflicted.
The recorder noted he had received a letter from Brunswick Methodist Church on the defendant's behalf, and a letter from Victory Outreach saying he was making good progress in their care.
Stephens was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months
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