Shane John Edward King: Immediate jail avoided for carrying knives for protection

An Albany man traumatised by a serious assault has avoided immediate jail time after he was caught carrying fishing knives for protection twice in 11 days. Shane John Edward King, 59, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying a weapon. King removed a fishing knife from a sheath at the North Road Shopping Centre on May 8 and told someone the knife was for his own protection. He was arrested later that day and told police that even if they took the knife off him, he would continue to carry knives for protection. Eleven days later, police stopped King on York Street who admitted he was carrying two fishing knives, again telling police he would continue to carry knives for his own protection. Legal Aid defence lawyer Wendy Stewart said her client had been a victim of serious assaults in the past making him fearful for his safety. Police prosecutor Sgt Matt Hartfield said King had a significant record before 2013 including attempted armed robbery and wounding. He said knife-inflicted injuries were on the rise and he held concerns about King, stating he would continue to buy and carry knives for his protection. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said the convictions on King’s record were old but included a threat to kill and involved weapons. “What’s concerning is that you have plainly stated to police you will buy more knives and carry them for your protection,” she said. King said he did not intend to use the weapons and would not carry them if he had not been seriously assaulted four years ago, saying he had “never been more scared in my life”. Ms O’Donnell questioned King’s carrying of weapons. “What is the point of carrying weapons if you don’t intend to use them?” she said. “The carrying of weapons alludes to the intended use of the weapons if confronted.” King was sentenced to six months in prison with a suspended imprisonment order of three months.