Student caught with 'evil looking knife' in his rucksack at Leeds City College's Quarry Hill campus

Leeds Crown Court heard arts and photography student Muhammed Tariq was arrested after staff at the college's Quarry Hill Campus were tipped off about him being in possession of the weapon.

Vincent Blake-Barnard, prosecuting, said a fellow student reported the defendant after seeing him in possession of it.

Staff who spoke to the 19-year-old on November 19 last year found the weapon in his rucksack.

Tariq told staff that he had bought the knife two days earlier for £3 and intended to put it on his bedroom wall for decoration.

Tariq, of Bayswater Mount, Harehills, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.

The prosecutor said the offence was aggravated by the fact that Tariq had the weapon on educational premises.

Giles Grant, mitigating, said Tariq has no previous convictions and admitted the offence at an early stage.

Mr Grant said the defendant had apologised to the college.

Mr Grant said Tariq suffered from health issues and would struggle to cope with a custodial sentence.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: "Anybody seeing the photograph of the knife that you took to college would be as frightened as you are now appearing in a Crown court.

"It is a terrible looking knife.

"Quite why you wanted to buy one and display it on your wall at home escapes me, and probably now escapes you.

"It has got no business being taken by you in a rucksack to college.

"You must understand the alarm bells that start ringing when someone is found in possession of an evil looking knife on school premises."

The judge told the teenager he had come close to being sent to custody for the offence.

He was given a 12-month community order and ordered to take part in ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Suzanne Gallagher, director of curriculum and operations at Quarry Hill campus, said: “Leeds City College has a zero tolerance approach to the carrying of knives and action was taken immediately once it was discovered.

“All students are safe at the college due to our firm approach and this was a very rare and isolated incident.

"We responded by immediately suspending the student, followed by an investigation which resulted in the student being excluded for the remainder of the academic year (as is normal in these circumstances).

"We have not agreed when, if at all, the student will return.

“While we are committed to restorative practice and we believe that people can learn from their mistakes, the safety of our students and staff comes first.

"The college would need to be convinced that the student has taken steps to demonstrate that he has learnt from this incident, fully understands the consequences of his actions, demonstrates genuine remorse and poses no threat in the future.”