Homeless Kettering man caught with CS gas after spraying himself in the face

A homeless Kettering man who accidentally sprayed himself in the face with CS gas outside a Kettering convenience store and then pulled a knife out of his bag has been jailed for 20 weeks for possessing offensive weapons.

Marek Kwaczynski, 46, of no fixed abode, had visited a shop in Montagu Street, Kettering on Saturday, October 3, with a bag containing all his belongings.

From the dock he said: "I am guilty."

Northampton Magistrates heard yesterday (Monday) a police report that Kwaczynski had come into the shop with a bag.

When he got to the counter he asked for two bottles of water for free. He then turned his back to the counter and walked outside and pulled out a spray can out which later was revealed to be CS gas. He then sprayed it into his own face.

He asked the shop owner for water to wash his face but when the request was refused, he washed his face in a puddle.

He reached then inside the bag again this time bringing out a Swiss Army Knife 'but he did not brandish it' .

Police were called to the shop by staff who had managed to retrieve the can which Kwaczynski claimed to have found.

Defending, Miss Collins said: "He said he had found the can. The knife was not open. He is homeless that is why he had all those items in his bag. Neither one of them was used to threaten."

Kwaczynski, who has been homeless for two years, pleaded guilty to possession of CS gas and a small lock knife and was sentenced to a total of 20 weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

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