A HOLIDAYMAKER seen with a large hunting knife while drunk on a Lake District camp site has been jailed for 180 days.
Bryan Paul Grigg, 36, was locked up at Carlisle Crown Court today (MON) – less than 24 hours before the start of a week-long Cumbria police countywide blade amnesty.
Concern was raised about Grigg on the evening of August 17 at the Chapel House Farm camping site, Borrowdale, near Keswick. The site owner was contacted and saw “extremely intoxicated” Grigg around the area of his tent with what prosecutor James Preece said was a “large knife”.
Grigg admitted having a bladed article in public, although it was stressed he hadn’t been threatening – nor aggressive – with the implement. He claimed to have used what was described as a “multi-tool” item – weighted at one end – both to hammer down tent pegs and also prepare sandwiches.
Judge Peter Davies heard Grigg, of Highridge, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, had a previous conviction for offensive weapon possession which dated back to 1999. The father-of-five’s Lakes crime was committed just weeks after he was handed a suspended prison term at Newcastle Crown Court for affray.
“I don’t like knives of any kind in a public place,” said Judge Peter Davies as he passed sentence. “There is a reason for that: knives are dangerous, whether they are being used to butter bread or not.
“I have seen too many wounds caused by knives – deliberately or recklessly. If you have a knife (in public) you go to prison.”
An order was also made for the knife to be forfeited and destroyed.
