An asylum seeker caught with a knife in a Home Office building in Cardiff claimed he only had it to cut pears during a trip. Waleed Al Twaini, 26, waited two years to receive refugees at immigration but things quickly fell apart when a three-inch kitchen knife was found in his bag during a search, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Lucy Mansfield said Al Twainy arrived in Cardiff on October 19 from his Home Office office in Plymouth. After getting off the train and arriving at the immigration office in Newport Road, he was “reluctant” to hand over his bag to security, who eventually discovered it contained a knife. Mrs Mansfield told the court: “He stated he bought a bag of pears in Plymouth the day before and used a knife to eat them on the train platform.”

Al Twiney, of Edgar Terrace, Plymouth, was charged with possessing a knife in a public place, but it initially appeared he would not attend the hearing. His lawyer, Ellis Worsley, said the defendant was paid just £50 a week to live on and could not afford the train fare to get to Cardiff. Worsley added that he was only able to make the trip in October because the Home Office paid for the case.

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District Judge Steve Harms said: “This is a disappointment to the asylum system. She gives them very little and the train fare from Plymouth is probably 60% of her weekly income. I see no other possibility of considering this case. .. I see no other option than to continue in your absence. The evidence is clear… There is nothing that can refute him, because he did not appear in court and, considering everything, I am sure of his guilt.”

At this point, Mr. Worsley, who had briefly disappeared, returned to the room and announced, “He just showed up.” There were groans throughout the room when the bailiff said, “I’ve already sent an interpreter.”

Judge Harms asked a servant to try to retrieve the interpreter and then said to Mr. Worsley: “Can you say [the defendant] I really won’t do anything with it. He is 26 years old, with a clean character… I would put him on probation and that would be seen in him.”

About an hour passed, during which another case was heard, before Al Twain finally appeared in the dock with an interpreter. The court noted that it was not known how long ago he applied for asylum. Judge Harmes said: “I will be extraordinary in this case. He has no means, he has a pure character… There is no evidence that he ever intended to harm anyone. It’s hard for me to know what to do with this; I can’t fine him, that would be ridiculous, and I won’t force him to work for free because I don’t think he crosses the community threshold. Of course he won’t go to pre-trial detention. I will place him on probation for two years and he will not pay any costs, fines or penalties at his own expense.

Addressing Al Twiney, the judge advised him: “Don’t get in trouble and nothing else will happen. People can’t use knives.”