Swift justice for dangerous offender as plain clothes officers swoop at station – East London

A teenager has been returned to prison less than 24 hours after he was caught carrying a 6-inch blade by plain clothes British Transport Police (BTP) County Lines Taskforce officers.

Walter de Carvalho, aged 18, of Ashcroft Road, Medway, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and was sentenced to eight months in a Young Offenders Institute (YOI) at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Thursday 10 September.

He had previously been sentenced to 46 months (three years and eight months) back in January for the sale of weapons and firearms and was out on license when he was spotted by officers at Stratford station on Wednesday 9 September.

Officers stopped him and found a small amount of cannabis on him and he was detained for a further search.

Despite repeatedly assuring officers he wasn’t carrying a weapon, they pulled a six inch dagger from his tracksuit bottoms which he’d been attempting to conceal.

He was immediately arrested and later charged the same day and recalled to prison.

BTP Seargent Julian Mason said: “When stopped by officers De Carvalho was given numerous opportunities to admit he was carrying the dagger but instead repeatedly claimed he had nothing on him.

“His protests were pointless as our plain clothes team pulled this shocking weapon from his trousers.

“We worked tirelessly with the probation service and the courts to ensure this dangerous individual was immediately recalled to prison, resulting in him being remanded in custody overnight and returned to the Young Offenders Institute the following day after his court appearance.

“Despite being released on licence for previous weapons offences this did little to deter him from carrying a potentially lethal knife in public.

“If you see anything suspicious on the railway text us on 61016.”