Man who smoked cannabis while cooking was arrested after carrying kitchen knife outside to get more drugs

For Liam Steabler, 20, was still carrying his kitchen knife at 1.30am – and was arrested by police called to Sunderland city centre.

In a police interview on Wednesday, March 10, he told the police officers, “I didn’t know that I had the knife, I’ve just made some food”, a court heard.

Steabler, of Borough Road, Sunderland, was charged with possession of a bladed article in public after his antics in Silksworth Row.

It was his second such weapon offence, with the first in 2017 as a youth - and he faces up to six months behind bars.

The court heard that meant he faces six months in prison.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “Officers attended Sunderland city centre in relation to a male carrying a knife around.

“An officer alighted the car and told him to put it on the ground. He did so.

“In interview, he told them, ‘I didn’t know that I had the knife, I’ve just made some food’.

“He does face six months in prison.”

Jason Smith, defending, told magistrates in South Tyneside: “He’s a young man with some previous convictions but nothing of great significance.

“The reality of the situation was that he was at his property and had done some food and had had some ‘green’ or cannabis.

“He was affected by that. He put the knife in his pocket and, in his own words, says, ‘I’d gone to get some more green’.

“When he’s walked up the street there’s nobody else around. He’s twiddling with the knife.

“The police officer tells him to put it down and he does. It’s an offence of gross stupidity, it has to be said.

"He was affected by what he had taken. He’s affected by his proclivity to cannabis.”

Steabler pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Magistrates adjourned the case for reports and granted him unconditional bail to appear at the same court for sentencing on Friday, May 21.

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