A man who admitted possessing an illegal knife said he was unaware a change in legislation meant he was breaking the law.

Emanuel Wlodarczyk, 38, was found to have a push dagger - a short-blade with a T-shaped handle designed to be held in a closed-fist - at his home at Peddars Court in Watton on January 3.  

Appearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Ryan Creek, mitigating, said he had ordered the close-combat weapon from a Chinese website but had been confused by the online guidance leading to a “genuine misunderstanding of the law”.

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The Offensive Weapons Act was updated in 2021 making it illegal to possess certain dangerous weapons - even in your own home.

The court was told the change was designed to remove weapons from circulation that could be lethal if used on the streets. 

Wlodarczyk was fined £346 and ordered to pay costs of £223. Magistrates ordered the dagger be destroyed. 

A weapons amnesty is set to be run at Norfolk police stations between August 26 and September 23.