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Swiss Army knife leads ex-police chief to fall foul of his old force
Last updated at 00:22am on 09.03.07
As a keen hiker, Brian Seaton was delighted to receive a Swiss Army Knife as a retirement gift from his colleagues in the force.
But the former chief inspector ended up back in the arms of the law after he tried to take it on a walking holiday in Spain.
His one-time comrades in the Leicestershire force questioned him and he was taken to court charged with possessing a knife in public without good reason.
Mr Seaton, 63, was dragged through the courts in a case that lasted nine months at a cost to the taxpayer of up to £10,000.
Mr Seaton, a policeman for more than 20 years until his retirement in 1996, said yesterday: 'I can't believe this ever went so far. It's a farce.'
His ordeal began as he boarded a flight to Majorca at East Midlands airport last June.
Security staff, who were on heightened alert for potential trouble-makers heading to the World Cup, found the three-inch knife in Mr Seaton's hand luggage, Leicester Magistrates' Court heard.
It was inside his washbag, which he had transferred to his carry-on bag after check-in staff told him his suitcase was too heavy.
He had forgotten the knife was there but it was spotted in an X-ray scan during a security check.
Mr Seaton immediately handed it over and assumed the matter was closed. But when he tried to reclaim it at Loughborough police station on his return from Spain, he found that his troubles were just beginning.
He was told officers wanted to interview him, and he agreed to be questioned but refused a formal caution.
A file was passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided there was enough evidence to prosecute Mr Seaton. The father of two said: 'When I found out what was happening I couldn't believe it.'
He was finally cleared on Wednesday after District Judge David Meredith heard he needed the knife to open tins and cut food while hiking in the mountains.
The judge said: 'It was a good reason. That good reason is not invalidated because you suddenly enter a certain part of the airport.'
Mr Seaton of Markfield, Leicester, said: 'There have been a number of court hearings, a pretrial review, an audience with the district judge and then the trial.
'It has been hanging around for nine months, and I'm not sure that it has been a good use of public money.
'Now I'm just glad it's over.' Mr Seaton's solicitor, David Leigh, last night estimated the cost of bringing the case to trial to be between £5,000 and £10,000.
He added 'All along it has been difficult to see the case to answer here, but the CPS has continued with this.'
Mr Seaton's MP, David Tredinnick, said the case was an example of the 'law being an ass'.
The Tory MP for Bosworth added: 'It seems strange that a retired chief inspector would be prosecuted when he clearly intended to go walking and had a valid explanation for carrying the knife.
'A reasonable person would have assumed he had made a reasonable mistake and it is regrettable that this case went as far as it did.'
The knife was returned to Mr Seaton immediately after the case.
Leicestershire Police said: 'Officers conducted a thorough investigation into the alleged offence and the evidence gathered was then put before the Crown Prosecution Service.'
Leicestershire CPS said the case was brought in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and that it believed there were grounds to prosecute with a realistic prospect of conviction.
Reader views (6)
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There are two small knife blades and eight assorted tools so why is it always referred to as a "knife"? To me it's a tool kit.
The main problem is that the Police have had removed from them their authority to use their common sense. If they choose to exercise it they might get into trouble so they simply apply the strict law and let the Courts sort it all out.
We have the same inanities here.
- A Govendir, Sydney, Australia
British lawmakers have taken the ridiculous to new heights. What's next? Against the law to defend oneself in one's own home? Your socialist, nanny-state model has failed - try going back to what made your country great.
- Raf, Castor, Alberta
I've carried a similar model every day for more than 30 years. It has been used thousands of times to open packages, peel oranges, slice cheese, spread mustard and tighten small screws among other things. I can't count the number of times I have used the tweezers and tooth pick (which I've replaced twice). The one I own has perhaps the world's best nail file on it. I have never though as myself as dangerous to the public or a threat to others. This knife has been on busses and airplanes and never given me or anyone else a lick of trouble. Thank God I got a good one. I suppose the people at Victorinox could be certain any of their product that is exported to Britian, is extra well trained so they don't lead their owners astray of the law.
Realistically, a 3 second application of common sense should have eliminated countless hours of expensive wasted due process. It would seem that certain individuals need to exercise their authority. It shows they are doing their job and the positions are both needed and important. In the end I can only feel sorry for the British and the society they built.
I eagerly await reading the first news article from Britian, outlining how the home office is overworked as armed representatives now must travel to all homes to carve roasts and slice bread.
- G. Gasper, Regina, Canada
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