Credit ratings and convictions

[Archburner]

I am going to plead gulty to possession of an offensive weapon (kitchen knife).First timer, no one hurt or attacked. Will this affect my future credit rating as I don't know whether the conviction is automatically relayed to financial institutions such as banks, credit card companies and loan companies and can my current credit cards be revoked?
Also, any ideas of possible sentencing ?

[amonty1144]

Hello, it should not affect your credit rating but it may affect your ability to get car or house insurance and/ or the premiunms you pay.I have attached the current sentencing guidelines.From your brief overview, i suspect a community sentence may be deemed appropriate.

See link for factors that affect.
http://www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk/guidel ines/other/courtappeal/default.asp?T=Cases&cat ID=7&subject=OFFENSIVE%20WEAPONS

[Archburner]

amonty1144: Thank you very much for your answer and I indeed referred to the website you suggested.Pardon my ignorance, though, of legal jargon, but what does "custody threshold invariably passed" mean?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

it will result in a criminal conviction and show up on any CRB check in the future,and could affect any jobs you apply for.

[Ethel]

You're not in the court of appeal, are you?

'Custody threshold' is when the offence could mean a prison sentence if there are factors that make the act more serious.

Having a knife on your person that has a longer blade than the permitted length is an offence. You will not get a custodial sentence if you can show, for example, that you use the knife in your workplace and forgot it was in your pocket.
You could 'cross the custody threshold' if there is no such mitigating factor and you were with a group of lads 'looking for a fight; this would make you more likely to receive a prison sentence.
This is just a very loose example.

Without knowing the background to the arrest it is impossible to say whether you will simply get a fine or go to prison.

I am sure you know the maximum penalty for being in possession of an offensive weapon is 4 years imprisonment or a �1000 fine.

[Archburner]

Ethel,
Chap really provoked me with threatening behaviour after parking in my residential space and in a moment of madness, I went in the house and got a kitchen knife with a 10" blade and started waving it around, no intention to harm.Nobody got hurt and there was no attack or affray and I was alone but he had a mate with him. Never been in trouble with the police before. Likely sentence in your opinion Ethel?As above, NOT in Court of Appeal.

[Ethel]

I don't like to guess, I really don't.

The thing is YOU knew you weren't going to stab him - but he didn't.

It is an offence simply having a knife in a public place, your case is somewhat more serious. Get yourself on an anger management course as soon as you can - that may help your case.

[zebedee1691]

Were you on your own property or in the street with the knife? Do you have any previous convictions at all?