Wisbech man had pepper spray for his 'own protection' court hears

A 21-year-old Wisbech man was given a pepper spray canister by his mother “for his own protection”, a court heard.

King's Lynn magistrates were told yesterday (Monday) that Nathan Lloyd Weston’s family had been subjected to attacks on their person and property. Police were involved but Weston’s mum had become frustrated at the lack of progress.

Prosecuting, Josephine Jones said police found the small canister marked “pepper spray” on Weston when a vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped in William Booth Road in King's Lynn on December 13 last year.

Miss Jones said: “He told police ‘it’s for protection’ and that his mother had got it for him.” Forensic analysis showed the item to be an irritant agent.

Weston, of Cattle Market Chase, pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, an offence under the Firearms Act 1968.

Likening it to a lipstick holder, Tim Bartlam, mitigating, said: “It’s not, of course, a firearm. It’s a small canister about two inches long which is readily available in America as a self-defence protection.”

Mr Bartlam said Weston’s mother was “apoplectic” over the situation which her family was in.

“She had provided this young man with the item for his own protection,” he added. “They live in, without being disrespectful, what is best described as a run-down part of Wisbech. They have been

targeted.”

Mr Bartlam painted a picture of family members being assaulted and criminal damage to their possessions. He said Weston’s mother had complained to their MP and had had meetings with the police but “nothing has been done”.

The magistrates’ bench told Weston that it was a serious offence, particularly against the current backdrop of knife crime and he should not take the law into his own hands.

He was handed a 24-month conditional discharge and told to pay £85 costs and £20 victim

surcharge. An order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the canister.