Alex Batty, 19, was seen to be acting suspiciously outside the Beastfair venue on April 20, claiming he had been assaulted and had drugs taken from him. He was arrested and they found the knife in one of two pairs of trousers he was wearing, along with several wraps of cocaine. They then searched his home on Crummock Place, Knottingley, and found an extendable baton.
He also described him as being a “scared kid” who had been dabbling in cocaine which he knew was a “stupid mistake”. He added that Batty helped out at a local youth club. Batty’s barrister Ed Youlton offered brief mitigation pointing to his young age and his lack of previous criminal convictions. Judge Christopher Batty said he was considering sending him into prison until his key worker’s glowing reference, telling the court he was impressed.