A Nottingham teenager, who was found with a machete concealed in his waistband, has been jailed. Mohammed Moussa was in a taxi when officers of Nottinghamshire Police’s knife crime team noticed the occupants of the vehicle were behaving suspiciously.
The car was then pulled over on Whitechapel Street and the 19-year-old tried to flee. His attempt failed, however, and he was handcuffed by officers.
During the incident, which took place at around 12.10pm on January 7, a sheathed machete was discovered concealed in Moussa’s waistband. The teenager was then arrested and charged with possession of a knife in a public place.
The 19-year-old, of Blundell Close, St Ann’s, pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for eight months when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 8. Also inside the taxi was Laquarne Fogo, aged 20, of Cameron Road, Derby.
During searches, he was found to have a lock knife hidden in his underpants. Fogo also pleaded guilty to knife possession and has been remanded in custody until January 29, when he is due to be sentenced.
PC Ken Tinley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This proactive vehicle stop has allowed us to seize and destroy two blades, and place two knife carriers before the courts. This is exactly the sort of outcome the knife crime team was established to achieve.
“Everything we do as a team is geared towards taking knives off the streets and bringing anyone who carries them to justice. There is never any excuse for anyone to be carrying a blade in public.
“It puts themselves and anyone they come into contact with at risk of harm. As this incident also highlights it can very quickly lead to you being put behind bars.”