Cookstown man had found baton in hedge

Morgan Crooks from Maloon Park admitted possessing an offensive weapon in a public place on January 24 last year.

Prosecuting counsel said at 1.10am, police were on mobile patrol in the Lough Fea Road area when they noticed two vehicles, which made off in the direction of Lissan Road on seeing police.

She said police followed and one of the vehicles, a BMW, stopped beside a forested area and three occupants got out and made off into the wooded area.

The lawyer said the defendant and his girlfriend surrendered themselves to police and in a follow-up search officers found the baton with the spike at the end in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

She said Crooks was cautioned and made no reply but in a later interview he admitted the baton belonged to him.

Defence lawyer Liam McStay said the defendant had found the baton in a hedge and, for no reason, had picked it up and put it in his car.

Mr McStay pointed out there were others involved and the defendant could have denied it but chose to be fairly open about it.

Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop gave Crooks 26 weeks to pay the fine and made an order for the destruction of the baton.

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