Worcester shoplifter found with rambo knife is sentenced

A shoplifter who assaulted a police officer and was found in possession of a large rambo knife has been sentenced at court to 32 weeks.

Khaleel Rawling, 21, of Hollybank Road, Birmingham appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Thursday 4 July charged with theft from shop, assault by beating of an emergency worker and possession of a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.

Rawling had been pursued by officers by car into the city centre following a theft from Asda on Silver Street last Wednesday 2 July around 11.30am before PC Warren Edmunds – on bike patrol - caught up with the suspect on Foregate Street.

Rawling threw the stolen goods at PC Edmunds causing a cut to his head before PC Edmunds got off his bike and tackled the offender. During the arrest they smashed into a barber shop window before Rawling was arrested.

A search of him carried out using powers under Section 32 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 located a large 30 inched bladed rambo style knife which was seized. Rawling was then further arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

At court on Thursday, he was sentenced to a total of 32 weeks – 16 weeks of this was due to a previous assault of emergency worker offence from 2024 that was originally suspended being activated, and a further 16 weeks was for possessing a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place to run consecutively.

Rawling was also sentenced to two weeks for Wednesday’s offence of assault by beating of an emergency worker to run concurrently for which he was also ordered to pay £100 compensation.

Safer Neighbourhood Inspector for Worcester, Tanya Beckett, said: “This was a good result to quickly arrest and get a swift sentence for this dangerous offender and we were fortunate to also seize the rambo knife which has no place on our streets.

“Rawling was rightly given a custodial term for the knife offence, assaulting our officer, and his previous offence of assaulting an officer.

“We will not tolerate shoplifting, knives or violence in our city centre nor assaults on our officers. Our officers and staff have a right to come to work and do the job the public ask of them.

“Committing an assault against a police officer is totally unacceptable and we will protect our workforce from injury by arresting anyone suspected of this, ensuring any incident will be fully investigated and appropriate action taken as was the case here.”