A Comins Coch man found with a ‘credit card’ knife told police that he didn’t realise it was illegal and only used it to cut string and fruit.

Kenneth David Phillips, of 23 Clawdd Helyg, admitted having the knife, which folds up into a credit-card shape, at Clarach Bay Holiday Park on Monday, 17 June, but said he had no idea it was considered to be a form of lock-knife.

His solicitor, Iestyn Davies, said Phillips’ misunderstanding could cost him his job as a licensed security officer, but said that the security company that Phillips worked for hadn’t realised credit card knives were illegal either.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Phillips had been stopped by security staff at the holiday park as he was travelling through the park because he was not a resident.

They called police, who arrested Phillips on suspicion of an offence that was never proceeded with, but during a search found the credit card knife in his wallet.

Phillips, 55, told officers that the knife had been in his wallet for two years and that he didn’t realise it was illegal.

He said he used it to cut string and to eat fruit, saying: “I’ve just used it to eat an apple if that helps.”

Mr Davies said as a licensed security officer Phillips was given a list of items that door staff would be expected to take off people, but that credit card knives had not appeared on it.

He said that Phillips had notified his employer, which had now added it to the list, with Mr Davies saying that showed how “seriously” Phillips was taking the issue.

The categorisation of a credit card knife as the equivalent of a lock-knife only came in the administrative court after Phillips had bought the knife he was in possession with, Mr Davies said.

He added: “He is embarrassed by this matter given his employment.

“The embarrassment should come second to the fact he may lose his employment, which given these circumstances would be unfortunate.”

Phillips was fined £350 and will pay costs of £120, with magistrates saying they had gone outside their guidelines because of the circumstances of the case.