Carl Robinson, a 49-year-old criminal known as ‘The Dread’, has avoided immediate imprisonment after admitting possession of three offensive weapons discovered during a police search of his £1million country home.
Robinson was handed a 48-week prison sentence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
However, District Judge Michael Snow suspended the sentence for 18 months under sentencing rules introduced to address overcrowding in Britain’s prisons.
Under the new arrangements, prison sentences of 12 months or less must generally be suspended unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Robinson will only serve the sentence if he commits another offence during the suspension period.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £272 in costs.
Three Knives Discovered During Organised Crime Investigation
The weapons were recovered on September 29 when officers searched Robinson’s five-bedroom country cottage, valued at more than £1million.
Police discovered a blue-bladed karambit knife and two flick knives, one with a black handle and the other with an ivory handle.
All three were found inside a kitchen drawer at the property, which Robinson shares with his partner and their four children.
Robinson pleaded guilty to all three offences when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 1.
The search was part of a much larger investigation involving approximately 800 officers who raided 24 properties across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk in September.
The operation also involved HM Revenue and Customs and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Investigators are examining suspected financial offences, including tax evasion and money laundering, alongside an alleged conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
Judge Rejects Explanation for Weapons Found at Home
During Monday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutor Hale Wheeler told the court that the three charges related to weapons discovered in the kitchen drawer during the September search.
She also highlighted Robinson’s previous convictions, noting that most of his criminal record involved weapons.
District Judge Michael Snow rejected the explanation offered by Robinson’s defence that he was unaware the knives remained in the property.
The judge said the weapons were ‘clearly visible’ and dismissed the suggestion that Robinson did not know they were there.
He described the karambit and flick knives as weapons capable of causing serious injury or death.
Judge Snow said the seriousness of the offences, combined with Robinson’s previous record, warranted consecutive sentences of 16 weeks for each offence, bringing the total to 48 weeks.
However, he said the sentencing rules meant the prison term had to be suspended because the case did not meet the threshold for exceptional circumstances.
Robinson Previously Convicted Over Eight Weapons
The latest offences are not Robinson’s first convictions involving weapons.
In April 2025, police discovered eight offensive weapons at his home, including two samurai swords, two knuckle dusters, a K25 tactical knife, a wooden-handled machete and a friction-lock baton.
He admitted eight counts of possessing offensive weapons in a private place at Thames Magistrates’ Court on April 10, 2025.
On June 10 that year, he received a 12-month rehabilitation order and was ordered to pay a total of £4,085 in fines, costs and victim surcharges.
He had also received two separate 12-month prison sentences in June and July 2006 after admitting two offences of carrying bladed articles in public.
The court further heard that he had a firearm possession conviction dating back to 1997.
Defence Says Knives Were Used for Farm Activities
Representing Robinson, Shila Keshvari told the court that her client had attempted to remove all weapons from his property following his 2025 conviction.
She explained that the family lived on farming land and that the children had used the knives to skin rabbits.
The defence lawyer said she had seen photographs showing lawful game-related activities taking place on the farm.
She added that Robinson acknowledged the weapons should not have been kept at the property and had promised they would not be found there again.
Keshvari also told the court that her client had previously accepted responsibility for his offences and completed the community-based penalty imposed in 2025.
Robinson Denies Allegations Linking Him to Police Murder Plot
Robinson is known by the nickname ‘The Dread’, which is associated with his dreadlocks and reputation in criminal circles.
He has a lengthy criminal history and has previously been linked through police intelligence to gangs operating in north London.
He is also an associate of suspected organised crime figure David ‘Long Fella’ Hunt, who is believed
