A folding knife disguised as a key that saw a woman handed 160 hours of community service by Oxford magistrates is available to buy online for as little as 74p.
Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard Alisha Jones bought the knife online and used it to open letters.
The 24-year-old was caught on CCTV at Witney Snooker Club with the two-and-a-half inch blade in her hand – and handed the knife over to door staff at the sports bar.
The key Alisha Jones had in Witney Snooker Club in August 2020 Picture: CPS
When she was interviewed by the police she told officers she’d bought the knife to protect her against would-be attackers.
Her solicitor, John Berry, told magistrates on Tuesday: “This young lady has had it for years on her keyring and she uses it for all sorts of things including opening letters.
“She thought it was legal to have. If you look online it says it’s legal to have in the UK because the blade is less than three inches.”
He added: “She obtained this item online, she can’t remember now whether she bought it from Amazon, Etsy or one of the well-known sellers online. It’s available from all of them. I’ve had a look.”
An online search by the Oxford Mail after the hearing showed similar ‘key knives’, which feature a short blade that can be folded back behind a key, being sold for as little as 74p on some shopping websites. The knives were listed on eBay for £1.78 and retailer Etsy for £13.21.
A listing for a knife similar to the key Alisha Jones had in Witney Snooker Club in August 2020, pictured on Ebay website (retrieved January 4, 2022) Picture: EBAY/WEB
A Google search shows the folding key knife on sale for 74p on one website, image retrieved January 4, 2020 Picture: OM
A listing for a knife similar to the key Alisha Jones had in Witney Snooker Club in August 2020, pictured on Etsy website (retrieved January 4, 2022) Picture: ETSY/WEB
Prosecutor Ann Sawyer-Brandish said Jones was at the Witney Snooker Club on August 22, 2020, when a fight broke out between some men, who were thrown out by door staff. The bouncers ‘became aware’ that Jones had a knife, which was subsequently handed over to them, she said.
CCTV showed Jones outside in a smoking area when she approached a group of men, holding a cigarette in one hand and the small blade in the other. She was pulled back by a member of her own party.
Mr Berry, defending, made it clear that his client had not intended to threaten or harm anyone using the small blade.
He said: “She believes that she probably got the knife out because she was anxious [as] she is a very anxious person but...never intended to stab anyone, which is what you are going to be concerned about, or get involved in any sort of fight.
“I accept knife crime is a serious thing and I accept the courts generally deal with these sorts of offences very seriously but I would invite you and your colleagues to take into account the context.”
Jones was hardworking and had recently set up her own business, he told the court.
The defendant, of Bledington, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possession of an offensive weapon.
She was given a 12 month community order with 160 hours of unpaid work, 10 rehabilitation activity days and must pay £180 in costs and surcharge.
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