Jail warning for ‘daft as a brush’ Boston teenager who tried to sell martial arts knife to raise funds for mum’s birthday present

A ‘daft as a brush’ teenager attempted to sell a martial arts knife in a town park to raise cash to buy his mum a birthday present… but instead earned a suspended prison sentence.

Mihata Ofrim - who had hopes of becoming a police officer - pleaded guilty to being in possession of a bladed article when he appeared before Boston Magistrates on Wednesday (November 20).

He also admitted a cannabis possession charge.

Prosecutor Marie Stace said the 18-year-old was with a group of people in Boston’s Central Park at 3.40pm on October 26 when police approached.

“Mr Ofrim went to the officer and said he had items on him he shouldn’t have,” Ms Stace continued.

“He had a karambit (a Filipino martial arts knife) in a sheath and a small quantity of cannabis.

“He said he had bought the knife online for £7 on behalf of a friend and went to the park to sell it to him, but he didn’t show up.”

Defending college student Ofrim, of Freiston Road, Boston, Lloyd Edwards said his client never had any intention of using the blade as a weapon.

“He’s 18. Daft as a brush,” he began.

“He saw the knife as being decoration only, to have on display at home.

“But it was his mum’s birthday and he decided he needed some money to buy her a present and found someone who was interested in buying it.

“The incident has left him very frightened for his future. He had ambitions of becoming a police officer but that is no longer possible.

“He was tearful when he was telling me this.”

Magistrates told Ofrim he had shown ‘some immaturity’ with his actions as they highlighted the devastation caused by recent high-profile knife crimes in the country.

He was sentenced to a six month jail term, suspended for one year.

The teenager was also ordered to carry out 10 rehabilitation days and pay a £154 victim surcharge and court costs of £85.