Dad hides 2 knives in child's buggy (Teignmouth, England, United Kingdom)

Dad LEE GOODING will be serving 90 days in jail after brandishing a knife in public, than trying to hide the knife in a pram (baby carriage) with his two small children. Two knives were found in the carriage. He was also convicted in 2007 of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. Nevertheless, we have the usual parade of enablers saying what a "kindly" father he is. Do "kindly" fathers leave knives next to little children in a pram? Utter rot.

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Father-hid-knives-child-s-buggy/article-1339381-detail/article.html

Father hid two knives in child's buggy

Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 09:08

A FATHER-OF-TWO seen brandishing a knife in public tried to hide the blade in his child's buggy.

Lee Gooding, 27, of Regent Street, Teignmouth, was sent to prison for 90 days after being found guilty of possessing a blade in a public place.

Magistrates were told Gooding was seen by a member of the public at 11am on May 12 with a knife while walking down Union Street in Torquay.

Police later found two knives, each hidden in a pram.

Prosecuting, Philip Sewell, said: "He was seen placing something in the pram with two small children by the side.

"A box with a knife was found in the pram and another knife in the pram. He said he was going to a friend's house to fetch some carpets."

Gooding was previously found guilty at a trial after denying the charge but magistrates postponed sentencing while probation prepared reports.

In mitigation, Nigel Butt, called upon a former headteacher, Diana Williams, to give a character reference for his client.

She said she had known him for 13 years and he was a 'kindly' father.

Since the incident, she had provided the finance to help him move away from Torquay which he thought was getting too rough.

She said: "I facilitated his move to Teignmouth [from Torquay] because he felt it was a gentler area.

"Torquay has become rough and he was amazed how welcoming people are. Brixham he felt was too rough.

"The reason was to bring his children up in a gentle environment. He's most concerned about his children."

Mr Butt said Gooding had not threatened anyone with the knife and was not drunk at the time.
"There is no suggestion this was something he carried around routinely," he added.

The court was told that Gooding had a previous conviction, dating back to 2007, for possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Chair of the magistrates bench Margaret Orr said: "We are dealing with an offence of possession of a bladed article in a public place and the bench feels it is so serious that the custody threshold has been crossed."

He was told to expect to serve half of the 90-day sentence behind bars. There was no award for costs.