Leeds driver had Samurai sword hidden down his trousers
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Police officers made the discovery when they stopped Yaqub Chaudri driving a Nissan Micra along York Road, Leeds, on July 30 this year.
Just five weeks before the incident Chaudri had been given a suspended sentence for dangerous driving.
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Hide AdHe had also been disqualified from driving and was made the subject of a curfew order. The 25-inch blade was found wrapped in plastic inside the waistband of his trousers. Chaudri was arrested and interviewed and said he had been carrying the weapon for his own protection. He told officers he had been driving the vehicle because he wanted to test it out before buying it. He refused to name the person he was buying the car from.
Chaudri, 45, of Coldcoates Avenue, Gipton, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no insurance and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. The court heard he has previous convictions dating back to 1989, including some for driving offences.
Marcus Waite, mitigating, said: “The defendant told the police at the time that he had been attacked and feared further attack. However, he had taken the weapon and essentially thought the better of it.
“He wrapped it up. It was down his trousers and it was not being waved around.”
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Hide AdChaurdri was jailed for 18 months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years, nine months. Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, said: “This was a fearsome and lethal weapon. It is something that the courts must take seriously. Referring to the driving offences, the judge said: “It was a flagrant breach of a court order.”
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