Man pleads guilty after being found with a knife and monkey dust

A man has pleaded guilty to weapon and drug offences after we caught him with a knife and monkey dust on a street in Stoke-on-Trent.

James Hopper, 33, of no fixed address, admitted possessing a knife in a public place and possessing monkey dust at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Saturday (16 March).

Patrolling officers stopped him on Friday (15 March) just after 9am on Birch Terrace, Hanley, and made the discovery.  He was arrested after the findings and charged with the offences before being sent to court.He has been remanded and is due to be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 14 May 2024.PC Kirsty Lovatt, the officer in the case, said: “This goes to show what type of results we can achieve by continuing to be proactive and acting on the concerns of local people in our communities.“We will act against those committing criminal offences in Staffordshire, gather evidence and put them before the courts.”