He was repeatedly found with knives and had a tow bar as a weapon, a court heard
A homeless man was repeatedly found with potentially lethal knives after things went “catastrophically wrong” in his life and he started carrying weapons in a bid to protect himself. Paul Drury even had a tow bar iron as a weapon and he used it to cause damage during one incident, Hull Crown Court heard.
Drury, 39, formerly of Beverley Road, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted three offences of possessing a knife on May 27, June 6 and July 14. He admitted possessing a tow bar as an offensive weapon and he was convicted after a trial of causing criminal damage on June 12.
Judge Alexander Menary said that Drury used a tow bar to bang on the glass of the front door, causing damage, near a stairwell at premises used to house vulnerable people in Amy Johnson Court, Hull. “A tow bar iron was found upon you,” said Judge Menary.
Drury later denied causing any damage. He failed to attend a trial but was convicted. On March 27, Drury was arrested on unrelated matters and he told the police that he had knives in his bag.
Two serrated kitchen knives and a craft knife were found in his bag. On June 6, police were called to St George’s Church, near Leeds Crown Court and Leeds General Infirmary, and Drury was detained and searched. A lock knife was found.
Drury was released on bail in Hull. Police later saw him outside a Sainsbury’s store in Princes Avenue.
Checks were made and he was arrested for unrelated matters. Drury told them: “There’s a knife in my shoe as well.” Police found a black-handled kitchen knife.
Drury had convictions for 22 previous offences but most of them had been committed since 2022. The early offences included possessing cannabis. “Something must have gone catastrophically wrong at that point in your life,” said Judge Menary.
“Since then, you have been amassing convictions and prison sentences at an increasingly frequent and severe rate.” Drury became homeless and at least some of his offences were committed when he was homeless and found it necessary to carry a knife to protect himself from others.
Marc Luxford, mitigating, said that Drury was homeless at the time that he had the knives. “There is no evidence that he has used that knife in a threatening way or that he produced it,” said Mr Luxford.
“It has always been in his pocket or his shoe or his bag.” Drury had been in custody on remand for more than two months.
Drury, also formerly of Great St George Street, Leeds, was jailed for 14 months.