A 19-year-old studying on an academic visa at the University of Bath made “a catastrophic mistake” by carrying a knife in a public place, magistrates said as they imposed a suspended jail sentence.
Bath Magistrates’ Court
Diego Haruni had admitted being in possession of the 13-centimetre bladed knife in James Street West in the city centre on 8th November without good reason or lawful authority.
At his first court appearance on 26th November, Bath magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service, remanding Haruni on unconditional bail.
At his court appearance on Monday 26th January, magistrates heard that staff at a local pub had been concerned that Haruni might have a knife.
He had run off but had been challenged by a street marshal. The incident was caught on CCTV.
Representing Haruni, solicitor Liz Morrice told the court the teenager, for whom character references were produced, is “remorseful”.
Very gifted academically, he is from Albania and came over on an academic visa to study finance and accounting.
She said the Home Office is sending him back to Albania due to his lack of attendance at the university following a suspension, even though the university is willing to reinstate him for the next academic year starting in September.
The Probation Service had recommended a community order, but that was not considered workable as Haruni, whose address in Bath was given as Green Park House in Green Park Road, has to leave the country before 27th February, said Ms Morrice.
Magistrates described the offence as “very serious” and crossed the custody threshold. They sentenced Haruni to three months in jail but suspended it for 12 months.
They also ordered the deprivation of the knife and ordered him to pay a £154 surcharge and prosecution costs of £85.
Chair of the bench Robert Kilby said the magistrates hoped that what had happened to Haruni would not affect him too much in the future.
They said it would be up to the immigration service whether he would be allowed back into the country.
Mr Kilby observed that Haruni would possibly regret his “catastrophic mistake” for the rest of his life.
