A TEENAGER caught with a bayonet in a busy railway station has escaped jail - after convincing a court it was a "wizard's wand".
Gregory Whittam, pictured right, was found with the 12-inch bayonet as he was about to board a train on his way home to Timperley, near Sale.
But prosecution lawyers later accepted 19-year-old Whittam's story that he was a practising witch of the Wicca religion and used the bayonet as a "religious tool" during magic rituals.
Prosecutors discovered that similar weapons - known as Athames - are consecrated knives and looked on as "wizard's wands" which can be used by members of different covens.
The knife is never used in an offensive way because it would then lose its magical power.
Whittam, of Swan Road, was charged with possessing the bayonet following his arrest at Manchester's Victoria railway station last February.
Knives
But the charge was ordered to lie on the file after it was accepted there was no sinister purpose for him carrying the weapon.
Whittam did admit having two throwing knives with him when police stopped him and admitted he was an avid collector of weapons - knives, swords, spears and rifles.
Judge Anthony Hammond gave him a 12-month community rehabilitation order at Manchester crown court but warned him: "I am not concerned with matters of religion or belief. What I am concerned with is the rule of English law. If you do this again you will find yourself really locked up."
After the case, Whittam revealed that at the time of his arrest he had been going to weekly meetings of his local coven with seven friends.
He said: "Unfortunately the coven has since broken up. I would rather not go into detail about it."
Antique
He added: "Wicca is a pagan nature religion which believes in `And it harm none do as thou will'. That means do no harm to others otherwise live your life as you please."
Whittam said he bought the antique bayonet for about '60 and knew immediately that it would be " perfect" for religious use.
He said: "Members of Wicca can carry Athames which are used as a religious tool in the working of magic to cast ritual circles and to wake spirits. They are not used as weapons and are not even used to physically cut things. They are purely a religious object."
His mother Janet said: "You wouldn't notice it to talk to him. He has never been in trouble before and would never harm anyone. He was silly and we accept that he shouldn't have been doing that."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Ricky G, Whitefield (21/02/2006 at 09:21)
Anyway - absolutely love the line ""Unfortunately the coven has since broken up. I would rather not go into detail about it."
Paul, Manchester (21/02/2006 at 10:05)
Tez, Manchester (21/02/2006 at 11:10)
Fixit, Middleton (21/02/2006 at 11:10)
Boniface.'., San Antonio, Texas (21/02/2006 at 12:00)
Andy, Wythenshawe (21/02/2006 at 12:19)
Hayley, Openshaw (21/02/2006 at 12:47)
Joey, Ashton under Lyne (21/02/2006 at 14:05)
Was it only last year that the home office were saying ANYONE with a illegal knife will get 5 years. Two throwing knives??? can't think of many legit uses on a train station - can you?
Colin W, Stockholm (21/02/2006 at 14:11)
Mark, Manchester (21/02/2006 at 14:13)
Paul, Salford (21/02/2006 at 14:46)
But even before prosecutors learned of the Religious Pointy Thing defence, the system can hardly have thought this was a big deal as it has taken a year to come to trial.
Is the 12-month community rehabilitation order just for the throwing knives then?
This article seems to get over-excited about the Wicca angle and misses out some salient details.
Karen, Bolton (21/02/2006 at 15:54)
Vaughan Wynne-Jones, Dallas, TX (ex Slough, Berks) (21/02/2006 at 16:13)
R Strachan, Glasgow. (21/02/2006 at 16:45)
The "Wizards Wand" is acctualy called an Athame and is the witches most impostant tool for focusing and directing any form of energy. To explain this further, the energy can be compared to the halo often depicted around Jesus Christs head in some Christian stories and liturgy.
Personally I respect the law, and I wouldnt wander about in public with my athame unless I had a reason to (e.g. attending a ritual in another part of town) and it was wrapped up, bound and kept out of harms way. Even then I would be wary about it.
Fixit - Witches and Covens have no connections whatsoever to Dungeons and Dragons except in the fantasy world.
Paul - if your suggesting that Paganism and Wicca are "made up" then you are far from the truth. Do a bit of research and you will find that Paganism has been around for eternity. Also the athame has been connected to many magical traditions such as Cermonial Magic, so Wicca borrowed it, thus it is not "made up."
Joey - Warlock does not mean a male witch. Warlock comes from the words "Vard Lokka" and "Waer Loga" and the correct meaning of warlock, is oath breaker.
Hope this cleared a few misconceptions up for you.
Many blessings,
R Strachan.
Liz, London (21/02/2006 at 17:16)
The thing is, English law does allow people to carry (as in 'transport') knives for ceremonial purposes. Also, if you have just purchased something, you may transport it home.
Without knowing more details, like whether the knives were wrapped or loose in a bag, it's rather hard for us the readers to tell if he was breaking the law or not.
markyboy, manchester (21/02/2006 at 17:26)
if the law states it is an illegael weapon then that is what it is, and the perpetrator should be jailed accordingly.
Bob Helmet, Farnworth (21/02/2006 at 17:51)
G.Whittam, Manchester (21/02/2006 at 18:05)
I may have played the system a little, but by no means am I any sort of thug/charver (do I LOOK like a chav yo?)
Now, I best get off, I have a pressing engagement with some "fairy herbs".
Ian, North Wales (21/02/2006 at 18:50)
Of course the throwing knives are another matter!
Louise Johnson, Stretford (21/02/2006 at 19:14)
It really annoys most Wiccans and Pagans when people misuse their beliefs and practices for their own nefarious ends, but the attempt to gain recognition, acceptance and tolerance by the rest of society means that they often fail to defend themselves and their religion, preferring instead to avoid being perceived as 'trouble-makers' who are 'rocking the boat'.
Assuming that the earlier comment is actually from Mr Whittam, he's as good as admitted that he used 'religious intolerance' as a convenient excuse to escape a harsher sentence. If he really is a Wiccan then fair play to him for having the guts to admit it, if he's not, then it's an abuse of the system.
Benjy, Wiltshire (21/02/2006 at 21:31)
Carrying throwing knives make it even harder to believe his weak excuse that it was for any 'religious' purposes. Any true Wiccan would not use such an item nor carry it in such an irresponsible manner in public.
P.S. A male witch is NOT a Warlock :-)
Arion the Blue, High Druid of Durham, Durham, North Carolina (21/02/2006 at 21:49)
Yes, the boy is a collecter of weaponry -- yet that is hardly a reason to suspect his sanity. While he may have improperly transported his collection, if he had been a 45 year old accountant, he would have been viewed as a legitimate collector instead of a potential hazard to society. As it is I hope that this episode will give strength to the boy's faith, strength to rise above the bigotry and ignorance displayed on this forum.
Arion the Blue
High Druid of Durham
Christopher Blackwell, Deming,NM, USA (22/02/2006 at 02:24)
Why not require a locked container when transporting any knife or sword.
I can understand anyone feeling nervous if they see someone sitting across from them with a big knife.
Even here in America we have to deal with similar laws in some of our states.
Luke Skywalker, Milennium Falcon (22/02/2006 at 07:43)
bill, manchester (22/02/2006 at 08:18)