Thief found with police baton

A SHOPLIFTER who was found with a police baton in a Northumberland flat claimed he bought the weapon online as he thought it was legal to have it for "self-defence" reasons.

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Daniel Robinson was spotted running into the property after he'd stolen chocolate from a Tesco store, in Ashington, and been aggressive to staff.

Officers attended the scene and searched the address but, instead of finding the 29-year-old, they located a police issue-style baton.

Robinson was arrested when he returned to the flat, which was his brother's girlfriend's, a short time later and immediately admitted that the weapon was his.