Man jailed after he was spotted carrying a knife at Newcastle Central Station

Kyle Morrow, 24, has been jailed for eight months after a member of the public spotted him carrying a kitchen knife at Newcastle Central Station.

The British Transport Police (BTP) received a report through their text service on Sunday, June 26, 2023, from a member of rail staff about what the passenger had witnessed.

Police attended the station and located Morrow, who was on board of a train.

Officers found that he was carrying a kitchen knife in the waist band of his trousers and they swiftly arrested him.

He was also further arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

When he was interviewed by police, he claimed that he didn't know he was carrying the knife and that someone else must have put it there without his knowledge.

Despite his initial denial, Morrow, of Rose Avenue in South Moor, County Durham, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and possession of a controlled substance.

He was sentenced at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 17, where he was jailed for eight months.

PC David Waggot, the investigating officer, hopes that Morrow's case demonstrates to members of the public how effective the BTP's text service is.

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He said: "Thanks to a vigilant member of the public and the fast response from officers Morrow was apprehended and a potentially deadly weapon removed from the railway network. "There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be carrying a knife in a public place.

"Morrow's swift arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of our discreet text service which allows passengers and rail staff to report anything that causes them concern in a discreet and effective manner, without raising the attention of the suspect."

The British Transport Police can be contacted on their text service via sending a message to 61016.