A balaclava-clad Bolton man took a hammer to the town centre protest – but a court heard he thought the march was linked to football. Police came across Mathew Edge on Sunday, August 4, at around 1pm before any disruption took place. He caught their attention as he was wearing a balaclava.
Officers searched him and found he had a hammer concealed his waistband and a small amount of cannabis. Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, said: "He informed the officer he had carried the hammer as he feared people using knives on him. "He said he was scared of people stabbing him and his friends.
"He said he had been at the pub with a friend and had drunk one pint of 0% Guinness. "He repeatedly apologised saying it was his own fault and he had got agitated and scared. "He further said he wasn’t a racist, his friend had told him to come down and he had made a very bad stupid mistake .
” (Image: GMP) She added: “The defendant was interviewed without a solicitor saying the hammer had been given to him by a friend who he had met. “He denied being aware of what was going on in town thinking it was linked to the football.” Edge, 34 and of no fixed abode, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis.
The court heard he had 18 previous convictions including for public disorder and burglary. Read more: Yvette Cooper says respect for police must be restored Read more: Five more charged after riots Read more: Rioters in court after.