Stafford woman convicted of weapon offences
It's after officers seized a zombie knife and a baton from a property
A woman has been convicted of weapon offences, after officers seized a zombie knife and a baton from a property in Stafford.
Kirsty Rigby, 34, of Stafford, appeared at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (13 January), where she was found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.
It comes as officers searched a property off Marston Road in Stafford on 21 November last year.
A zombie knife and an extendable baton were recovered.
The black extendable baton had a spring-loaded locking mechanism and a sharp circular point at the base of the handle.
The zombie knife had a serrated 8.5 inch blade and a flat cutting blade at the bottom.
Zombie knives were banned in September 2024, when it became illegal to own, make, import or sell the knives as part of a national government crackdown on knife crime.
Speaking after Rigby’s conviction, PC Liam Matthews of the county, rural and proactive team, who was the officer in the case, said: “When officers entered the property, the weapons were on full display.
“I’m glad the jury found Rigby guilty of the offences, and we managed to get these weapons out of circulation.”
Rigby has been bailed ahead of a sentencing hearing due at the same court on 23 April.
Since 2024, police say they have seen almost 4,000 knives voluntarily surrendered through their amnesty bins during the latest Ditch the Blade campaign, part of the national Operation Sceptre.
For more information, see: Continued focus on reducing knife crime as Ditch the Blade launches | Staffordshire Police