An ex-Marine accused of having an obscure martial arts weapon near a Perth retail park has walked free from court after claiming he bought the suspect item as a “joke” gift for his wife.
Dean Crowley had a Kubaton in his pocket when he was pulled over by police in the city’s Long Causeway, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
The metal device was described in court as a “handheld strike weapon used in martial arts”.
Former Green Beret Mr Crowley, 50, admitted he had the device but denied it was an offensive weapon.
He told his trial: “It was a joke present. It was a little stocking filler.
“My wife said that she was a bad driver.
“I said: ‘Here you go then, if you have a crash you can use this to smash your way out’.
“It was a joke.”
‘Self defence’ claim
The court heard police pulled over Mr Crowley’s Hyundai Coupe at about 11.40am on November 5 2020.
Police Constable Steve Currie, 36, told the trial, at the time, officers had cause to stop and search the vehicle.
The Kubaton was found on Mr Crowley’s person, PC Currie said.
“I wasn’t searching for weapons,” he said. “But I found one.”
PC Currie said Mr Crowley told him: “It was for self-defence, for protection.”
The officer said: “He said he had bought one for himself and his wife.”
Police sergeant Darren Pilkington, 52, also told the trial Mr Crowley said the item was for “self-defence.”
Used to break car windows
Taking the witness stand, Mr Crowley said both officers had remembered incorrectly.
“When I handed it over, I said that it was on a keyring,” he said.
“I’m not being funny but I’m a former Royal Marine.
“Why would I need something like that for self-defence?”
He said the item was advertised online as something that could be used to break car windows.
“It was bought as a joke present because she (my wife) used to say she wasn’t a confident driver.”
Asked by fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson if the police witnesses were lying, Mr Crowley said: “Their recollections are different to mine.”
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said the handheld device was not pointed or weighted and was not intended to be used as a weapon.
Sheriff John Morris found the case against Mr Crowley not proven.
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