Teenager Sentenced to Jail After Seizing Knives from Taxi in UK

A teenager has been sentenced to jail after a police team seized two knives from a taxi in Nottingham city center. The incident, which took place around 12:10 pm on 7 January 2025, saw 19-year-old Mohammed Moussa arrested for possessing a machete and a lock knife. The stop was part of a proactive operation by the knife crime team aimed at removing dangerous weapons from the streets.

The Incident

The Nottingham knife crime team identified suspicious behavior from the occupants of a taxi in Whitechapel Street, prompting the decision to pull over the vehicle. When police stopped the car, Moussa attempted to flee but was quickly detained. Upon searching, officers discovered a machete concealed in his waistband.

Moussa was arrested and charged with possession of a knife in a public place. He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 8 January 2025 and pleaded guilty to the offense. As a result, he was sentenced to eight months in jail.

Another Suspect Found with Knife

Also in the taxi was Laquarne Fogo, 20, from Derby. Fogo was found to be in possession of a lock knife hidden in his underpants. Like Moussa, Fogo pleaded guilty to knife possession and remains in custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 29 January 2025.

Police Response and Statement

PC Ken Tinley from Nottinghamshire Police praised the stop, highlighting its effectiveness in removing dangerous knives from the streets. He emphasized the team's ongoing efforts to reduce knife crime and reiterated that there is no justification for carrying a blade in public.

PC Ken Tinley stated:

“This proactive vehicle stop has allowed us to seize and destroy two blades, and place two knife carriers before the courts.”
“Everything we do as a team is geared towards taking knives off the streets and bringing anyone who carries them to justice."

The incident demonstrates the risks involved in carrying knives in public and the legal consequences for those who engage in such behavior.