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Man jailed after knife found during e-scooter stop

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 20:28 · Archive

A 23-year-old Basildon man was sentenced to 21 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, after police found a knife hidden in his waistband during an e-scooter stop.

Gift Osondu, 23, of The Gore, Basildon, was sentenced after Essex Police stopped him riding an illegal e-scooter in St Martin's Square on May 5. When officers approached him, Osondu turned his e-scooter around and began riding away. Police stopped and detained him.

A search found a knife concealed in the waistband of his trousers, along with cash and a mobile phone. Essex Police said these items were linked to drug dealing. Basildon town centre has a public spaces protection order that bans people from riding privately-owned e-scooters.

Osondu appeared at Basildon magistrates' court on October 9, where he admitted possession of a knife in a public place and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to 21 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Orders were made for the forfeiture and destruction of the knife, cannabis and mobile phone.

PC Thomas Windeatt of Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team said Osondu's behaviour of turning away when he saw officers raised their suspicions. 'We use stop and search when we suspect people are carrying weapons, drugs or stolen property,' Windeatt said. 'It's an important tool which helps us to keep people safe and, in this case, resulted in a knife being taken off our streets.'

Man jailed after knife found during e-scooter stop
Image: Brentwood Guardian

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In this story: Gift Osondu · Essex Police · Basildon · Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team

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