Newark teenager admits possessing knife in public place after running from police

A teenager who ran from police before being found hiding in a bush with a knife in his pocket has pleaded guilty to the offence.

Lewis Neal, 19, of Stoke Avenue, Newark, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 7, due to stand trial for possession of a blade over three inches in public without good reason.

He instead changed his plea to guilty, having previously pleaded not guilty in October.

Neal was found with the knife on September 17, 2024, when he was 18, on Northern Road, Newark, at around 11pm.

The court heard he had been out with friends after work on their bikes when they had been approached by police, at which point Neal ran away and was chased before being caught hiding in a bush.

The prosecution, outlining the agreed facts of the case, explained that police conducted a search and when Neal was asked if he had anything sharp in his pockets he handed the knife over.

His defence solicitor, Mr Shamoan, explained that he had been using the blade, a folding pocket knife, at his recycling plant job that day and had forgotten to take it out of his pocket at the end of the day.

He added: “He is extremely remorseful for this offence.

“Normally he would put the knife in the office before leaving… in his rush he forgot.”

After work, the court heard, Neal took a taxi home before going out with his friends, and was “just living life as always”.

“It was only when the police officer asked him he realised he had the knife,” Mr Shamoan added.

“He did not use it in any malicious or unlawful way… he handed it over to police and cooperated.”

Neal is due to be sentenced in April for the offence, after a probation report has been prepared.

He has one previous offence of possession of a bladed article, which occurred in 2017 when he was 11 years old.

“This is his first offence as an adult,” his solicitor added, and said Neal was “absolutely terrified” of the prospect of a custodial sentence, and had mental health concerns.

He suggested the defendant’s actions showed a “lack of maturity” and asked for that the fact that human brains don’t fully develop until the age of 25 to be considered as a mitigating factor.

The magistrate described it as a “serious offence” and agreed to adjourn for a probation report, with Neal again given unconditional bail.