(Image: PA)
A purchase on secondhand clothes website Vinted cost a restaurant worker his job, his good name and could affect his studies, York magistrates heard.
Tobias Bennison, 23, didn’t realise it was illegal to possess the police tactical vest he was buying – and when officers searched his house for more illegal items they found a prohibited knife, the court was told.
Duty solicitor Liam Jackson said as a result of his arrest following the house search Bennison lost his job in a restaurant and may lose his place studying at Leeds Trinity University.
Bennison, of Doncaster Road, Brayton, pleaded guilty to possessing an item of police uniform and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.
Magistrates fined him £80 and ordered him to pay a £32 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
Georgina Fishwick, prosecuting, said a member of the public tipped police off that a man not apparently a police officer was wearing a police vest on April, 17 in Selby.
When officers arrived, they found the vest on the ground. Bennison said it belonged to him.
Mr Jackson said Bennison didn’t think he was doing anything wrong when he bought the vest on Vinted. He hadn’t bought it with the intention of impersonating the police.
“It was a mistake,” said Mr Jackson.
Ms Fishwick said police carried out a search of Bennison’s home on April 22 to see if he had other items of police uniform. They didn’t find any, but they did find a butterfly knife – which is illegal to possess. Bennison had no previous convictions.
Mr Jackson said the knife had been in the roof space of Bennison’s house along with other items, all of which had been there for a long time. He had forgotten he had it. He had not intended to use the knife.
“He had no knowledge the knife was illegal to possess,” said Mr Jackson. “Had he done, he would have got rid of it.
“It’s a foolish mistake he has made”.
Bennison was remorseful. He had lost his job because when he was arrested and taken to a police station, he missed his restaurant shift and when he told his boss when he hadn’t turned up for work, he was sacked.
He is currently studying at Leeds Trinity University and doesn't yet know what consequence his arrest will have for his studies, said the solicitor.