A MAN who was caught with a snooker ball inside a sock at Southampton Central Train Station told police it was a door stop, a court heard.

Richard Sesay was found with the offensive weapon after being sniffed out by a police dog unit as a 'person of interest'.

Officers found the sock and ball tucked inside his bag and wrapped in a balaclava and hat when they searched him.

The 25-year-old was arrested and charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place but was released later that day after being deemed to not be a threat to the public.

READ MORE: Southampton man sexually assaulted shop worker

Sesay, of Bampton Close, Southampton, pleaded guilty to the offence but maintained that the item was used as a doorstop.

Prosecuting, Richard Sedgwick said that he has three previous convictions, including possessing an offensive weapon in 2016 in Hackney, London.

He added that on this occasion, the sock had been stuffed with three snooker balls.

Mitigating, Lucy Conroy said her client had been left traumatised after an attack in London and was using the item for self-defence.

“What you have is a young black male growing up in London”, she added.

“He had some negative peer influences. [He] was also subject to a very violent assault.

“A friend was also stabbed. It clearly has had an absolutely seismic effect on him.”

READ MORE: Burglar took Christmas presents, cash and rings 

However, the judge, Recorder Barry McElduff referred to the item as Sesay’s “weapon of choice” adding that his offending was the same as in 2016.

He said: “There is no justification for carrying a snooker ball in a sock in public. On the 21st of May 2021 that is what you did.

“You know that is against the law because you did it when you were a much younger man in Hackney.”

Sesay was given an 18-month community order and must complete ten rehabilitation activity days, 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £900 in costs.

The sock and snooker ball will also be forfeited and destroyed.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook