A Hertfordshire University student who was caught with a Rambo-style knife in his car was given a “second and last chance” by a judge on Friday, June 11, 2020.
Rochun Aransibia, 20, who studies graphic design, was on a suspended sentence when the police stopped the VW Polo he was driving in Whitehaven, Luton on January 10 this year.
Prosecutor Shona Probert said: “The car was stopped at 6.15 in the evening. The defendant was driving and had a female passenger. “There was a smell of drugs coming from the car.
An officer found the sheathed hunting knife down the side of the driver’s seat.”
When asked by the police why he was carrying what was described as a large hunting-style Rambo knife, he said: “I was holding it for someone.” Aransibia, of Wellfield Avenue, Luton, appeared for sentence at Luton crown court having pleaded guilty to having a knife.
He was in breach of a 12 week jail sentence imposed at Stafford crown court on August 5 last year.
Ms Probert said he had gone to visit his brother in Brinsford Prison. When stopped on his way back from a toilet he was found to have a cigar-shaped clingfilm package on him that contained 1.74 grams of cannabis.
Defending, Claire Langevad said: “He wishes the court to know he has no gang affiliations.” She said he had found the knife and had intended to hand it in. He was adamant he had no intention of using it, she said. “It was a monumentally stupid decision,” she said.
Ms Langevad asked the judge not to activate the 12 week suspended sentence saying Aransibia had completed 150 hours’ unpaid work ordered by the judge on that occasion. Judge Lynn Tayton QC told him: “It was a hunting knife – a very nasty weapon. It is not something anyone should be carrying under any circumstances.”
But she said Ms Langevad had persuaded her not to impose the suspended sentence. She passed a sentence of 10 weeks’ detention suspended for 24 months.
He must attend 20 rehabilitation activity days and carry out another 200 hours unpaid work. In addition, he must abide by a 7pm to 7am curfew for the next three months. The judge warned him: “This really is your last chance. It is up to you to keep yourself out of trouble.”
