Litter picker in court over taser he found in park

A LITTER-picker who found a discarded taser in the park and took it home has been punished with a community order.

Andrew Oxley (43), of Claycliffe Terrace, Goldthorpe, claimed he had kept the weapon at home, disguised as a camera, for his own protection.

He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday after admitting at a previous hearing to possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a class B drug.

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Ms Laura Marshall, prosecuting, told the court police officers had executed a search warrant at Oxley’s address and discovered a small bag of amphetamine on a table in the living room.

Officers also found a taser which Oxley had attempted to disguise as a camera.

Oxley told the officers that he had kept the taser for his own protection.

“He said he had forgetten he had it in his possession,” Ms Marshall told the court.

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“He had found it in a local park, brought it back to his house to put it in the bin but forgot about it.”

The court heard Oxley was “intellectually-challenged”.

Mr Andrew Smith, mitgating,  said: “Unlike many in his position, he is not somebody who just takes, takes, takes from the community.

“He volunteers for the Salvation Army and the other community work he did was voluntaring taking part in keeping the local park clean.”

Oxley had taken the weapon home and put it on his kitchen table which was covered in other items, Mr Smith told the court.

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Oxley was given a 12-month community order and must complete a six-month drug rehabiliation course and up to 20 days of rehabilitation.

Sentencing him, Judge Jeremy Richardson said having tasers in public circulation caused anguish to the general public.

“You were going about your good ways, cleaning the park up, and that is of credit to you,” he said.

“Unfortunately, you picked up this device — the police accept that and I accept that.

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“What you should have done was disposed of it in the bin and you should have disposed of it there and then.

“Instead of disposing of it, you took it home and I daresay you did forget all about it in all the detritus in your home.

“The police came round and they found this small quantity of drugs and this item.”

Judge Richardson told Oxley that drugs would not help him.

“In the interests of your own welfare, I would like you to make real efforts to pull away from drugs because I think your life will get better,” he said.

“Listen to what the Salvation Army say to you because they are good people.”

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