Sad case of homeless addict found walking around Sheffield with Rambo knife

A homeless man who turned to drug dealing after his latest release from prison has been caught wandering the streets with a Rambo-style knife.

Franklin Tomlinson, 64, was seen by CCTV operators in Sheffield with a knife on August 12 last year. Prosecutor Ian West told Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday: “CCTV operators alerted police that they saw him with a knife. Officers approached the defendant who fled and was apprehended after a short foot pursuit.

“A short kitchen knife was found. During the chase, he dropped a bag containing a larger knife. It was searched and a small amount of cocaine was found. His home was searched and a small amount of cannabis was recovered. charged and released on bail”. Mr West said the larger knife was a “Rambo style knife”.

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The court heard that although Tomlinson, of Haslam Crescent, Low Edge, was out on bail for these offenses – possession of bladed articles and possession of cocaine and cannabis – he went on to commit a second set of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine. . Mr West did not go into the details of those offenses in court, but Tomlinson was said to have previous convictions on his record.

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Mitigating Richard Adams told the court he was released from prison in February 2023 and was “effectively homeless”. The court heard: “He had a Class A habit for many years. In circumstances where he found support, frankly through old contacts, he relapsed into drug use.”

Mr Adams said it was suggested by the offense that he was “covering his own consumption to some extent and identified that he had a considerable drug habit which he simply could not meet using his benefits at the time”.

The lawyer added: “Given his past lifestyle, his health has been affected. There were arthritis problems, there were more serious problems with his kidneys and his heart. Then, since he was in custody, he was diagnosed with bladder. cancer.”

Tomlinson was said to have had his cancer removed, but will continue to undergo radiation therapy for the next three years. Mr Adams added: “The circumstances are different for this defendant.”

Recorder Palmer jailed Tomlinson for four-and-a-half years and said he would serve half of that time in custody before being released on licence.