UPDATE March 7, 2024, 5:28 PM GMT: Notably, Anthony Bray has accumulated a considerable history of prior offenses, including instances of housebreaking.
Therefore, you have learned the headline. Police in Warwickshire apprehended an individual and subsequently imposed a four-month prison term after they were seen promenading through the city’s central thoroughfare, brandishing a replica of the iconic Master Sword from the popular video game series, The Legend of Zelda.
In a surprising turn of events, Anthony Bray of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, was slapped with a charge for “possession of a bladed article in public” after an encounter with law enforcement.
The incident involved carrying the “small duplicate” of the iconic Grasp Sword from the Zelda series, as described by police, which features a six-inch lengthy blade. The suspect, identified as Bray, was spotted walking down an avenue in Nuneaton on June 8, prompting officers to respond after being alerted by CCTV footage.
Bray alleged he bought the sword online as a fidget toy for personal use. Regardless of any claimed purpose, the authorities contended that this object, with its unmistakable shape, could be employed as a weapon, potentially instilling fear in those who might perceive it as such.
While Bray acknowledged the potential perception of his grasp sword as intimidating to others, he emphasized that he would never intentionally utilize it as a weapon. He must also pay a victims’ surcharge of £154, equivalent to approximately $196, as part of his sentence.
While it may seem harsh at first glance, the penalty appears reasonable considering the nature of the toy sword, provided Bray’s actions stopped there and didn’t involve violating any existing norms or orders affecting him.
Alex Donaldson, an avid gamer with a substantial collection of gaming-related items, proudly owns a replica Master Sword, which features a blade that, although longer than the 3 inches that poses a legal hurdle in the UK, he claims is not particularly sharp. Then, once more, that may have been an enormous assumption, implying that the sword Bray wielded was fundamentally distinct from its original form.
Without hesitation, Sergeant Spellman of Warwickshire police’s Patrol Investigations Unit clarified that: “Warwickshire police adopts a zero-tolerance policy towards bladed instruments in public areas; unfortunately, Bray has contravened this stance.” You don’t have to settle for harmful fidget objects. Isn’t it possible to walk down the street without holding them up for everyone to see? Had Bray possessed a modicum more self-awareness, she would likely have deliberately avoided all contact with us.
It’s unlikely that hosting a large-scale, cosplay-centric Nintendo event in Nuneaton’s city center would be feasible in the near future.
